RI's karate hopefuls tipped motivation

RI's karate hopefuls tipped motivation

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian karatekas set to fight in an international karate
tournament in Jakarta next week, were injected with renewed
fighting spirit by the sport's patron during a meeting here on
Wednesday.

The karatekas are going to host their overseas rivals at the
Indonesia Open, which will be staged at Bung Karno Tennis Indoor
Stadium from June 4 to June 6.

Organizing committee chairman Hermawan Sulistyo confirmed that
about 170 athletes from 17 countries would come to the event,
including the hosting contenders, who are divided into two teams,
Tiger and Buffalo.

With the event less than a week away, the Indonesian Karate-do
Federation (Forki) said it was important to renew the athletes'
motivation.

"Since you have been training hard, you must show that you can
accomplish your duties. Give your best for the country," Forki
chairman Luhut Panjaitan told the athletes.

"As board patron, our obligation is to care for your welfare.
What we want from you in return is nothing more than your
achievements," he said.

The gathering was held at the headquarters of the National
Sports Council (KONI).

KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar also offered his support,
saying that fighting on home turf should boost their energy
levels to allow them to defeat their opponents.

Meanwhile, team coaches were overly cautious in rating their
proteges' chances at the tournament.

"All of our athletes have their own chances," Zulkarnaen
Purba, the head coach of the 19-strong Tiger team, told The
Jakarta Post.

He singled out a few karatekas that he believed to have the
best prospects, but that was only after he was prodded to be more
specific.

"We can rest our hopes on Wawang Rasyid for the under 55
kilogram category and Isfan Tanjung for the under 60," he said,
adding that the participants, particularly from Malaysia and
Australia, would be the toughest contenders.

Among the 20 athletes on the Buffalo team, hopes for medals,
according to head coach Willem Mantiri, would be pinned on six
national athletes who are currently preparing for the 2002 Asian
Games in South Korea.

Apart from carrying out his duties at the Indonesia Open,
Willem is also responsible for the preparation of Asian Games
athletes.

"If asked about the chances, I would have to say the Asian
Games hopefuls have better odds than their other teammates,
because they are players already at the Asian level," he said.