RI targets world's 5th best in weightlifting

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)