RI targets world's 5th best in weightlifting

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has set a target to be included as the fifth world's best in weightlifting in the year 2,000.

"With a good training program and preparation of the weight lifters, it is expected that the target could be achieved," Soesilo Soedarman, chairman of the Indonesian Weight lifting Association, said in Bandar Lampung yesterday as quoted by the Antara news agency.

Soesilo, who is the coordinating minister for political affairs and security, was in Bandar Lampung to officiate the Satria long-term training session and opening of the Gajah Lampung lifters dormitory in Pringsewu, South Lampung.

According to Soesilo, Indonesia has the potential to achieve the target as a number of its weight lifters are of world rankings, like Sri Indriyani from Lampung.

The minister said with the long-term training program from the year 2000 to 2004, the lifters, both men and women, will attend special and well-programmed training stints.

"We have made it a top priority that the lifters be given good training. With the new dormitory, the lifters are encouraged to improve their performances," Soesilo said.

The long-term training session is also being held in South Kalimantan. Ten lifters each from Lampung and South Kalimantan have joined both training programs.

Five lifters from Lampung -- Sri Indriyani, Winarni, Taufik, Misdan and Tatik -- are among the lifters selected for the 2000- 2004 training sessions. They have also been chosen by the association to take part in the coming SEA Games in Jakarta in October.

For the Jakarta Games, Soesilo said the association has named two cities as the training centers, Wisma Gajah Sena in Bogor and Padepokan Gajah Lampung.

The Bogor training center will be supervised by coach Nedeltcho Koley of Bulgaria. In Lampung, it will be under the supervision of Imron Rosadi, a national coach.

Kolev, who was in Bandar Lampung for the occasion, said the women lifters have a better chance of succeeding in the SEA Games than their male counterparts.

"There is a big possibility that Indonesia will capture a gold medal from weightlifting through the women lifters. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the women's weightlifting event will be contested, and this is a good opportunity for Sri Indriyani and her teammates to show a good performance," Kolev said. (lnt)