RI set to be better in ASEAN track meet

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is worried about Thailand's all- conquering team in the upcoming 20th ASEAN School Track and Field Championships here on June 15 and June 16, but promises a better outcome than last time.

Organizing committee chairman Sri Sudono Sumarto announced yesterday that Indonesia has set a chief target of beating Malaysia this time, rather than winning the overall championship title.

Indonesia finished third in last year's event with seven gold medals behind overall winner Thailand, and runner-up Malaysia. Host Thailand grabbed 19 golds while Malaysia earned nine golds.

"We will and have to outshine Malaysia here," Sudono said. Malaysia led Indonesia by gold medals but suffered a four-silver deficit last year.

National coach Pieter Noya also expressed guarded optimism that Indonesian athletes will avenge their defeat to Malaysia.

"Our students have better records that the Malaysians have had recently. But to beat Thailand is unlikely," he said.

About 300 high school students from seven ASEAN country members will take part in 40 events at the Madya Senayan stadium next week. New ASEAN member Vietnam will make its debut here.

Indonesia was named host of the annual meet in the last ASEAN School Sports Council meeting in Langkawi, Malaysia, last November.

The Madya Senayan stadium is hosting the national student track and field championships now underway until the weekend. The national competition will serve as a selection ground for students who will represent Indonesia in the ASEAN meet.

West Java led the pack with five golds, three silvers and a bronze. East Java was second with three golds, six silvers and five bronzes, followed by Central Java which collected three golds, a silver and two bronzes.

Meanwhile, Pieter said that marathon runner Ethel Hudson was the only Indonesian athlete to qualify for the Atlanta Olympic Games track and field competition.

However, the Indonesian Track and Field is considering picking women's sprinter Irine Joseph to accompany Ethel in the Summer Games this July.

Irine failed at the qualifying round in the Taiwan Open recently, but an International Olympic Committee rule allows each country to be represented by one athlete, although unqualified, in the Olympics.

"It's now up to the National Sports Council whether to send the two athletes or not," Pieter said. The council will officially announced the national Olympic team members on June 15. (yan)