RI's Sepak Takraw teams to enter Arafura, King's Cup

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Sepak Takraw Association will send teams to the Arafura Games and the King's Cup in preparation for the 19th SEA Games here in October.

Sepak takraw training director Soebroto told the National Sports Council's chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, yesterday that a team of four men would compete at the Arafura Games, from May 10 to May 17 in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Twelve male and four female athletes would go to Bangkok for the King's Cup, from June 22 to June 28.

"After the King's Cup, athletes will stay for 10 days for more tryouts with local teams. We aim to improve their technical skills and boost their competitiveness," Soebroto said.

The team will fly to Malaysia after the tryouts.

Soebroto said the association had selected seven men from Pakanbaru, Riau, eight men from Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, and 15 women from Jakarta for the team.

They are training in a centralized program here.

The association aims to get a gold in the women's team and a silver in the men's team events.

At the 1995 Games, Indonesia took only two bronzes in the sport while host Thailand grabbed two golds.

Lifter

The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association will send Sri Indriyani, Tanti Pratiwi and Joko H. to compete at the Junior World Championship in South Africa, from May 26 to June 7.

Budi Santoso, the association's spokesman, said yesterday Sri would retain her title, which she won last year. The championship is expected to help selection for the Games national squad.

The association will hold national selection on April 14 at the Rawamangun Teachers's Training and Education Institute. Thirty lifters -- 16 men and 14 women -- of the 134 going for selection will join the Games team.

"Final selection for the main squad will take place in August," Budi said.

Meanwhile in archery, Indonesia grabbed four gold medals at the Thailand Open championship last week.

Petrus AB won the gold in the men's 70m individual. Permadi Sandra, Yulianto and Latif Pramono took the gold in the men's 70m team.

Lucia Elizabeth took the gold in the women's 70m individual and, with countrymates Yuliasih and Suhartini, won the gold in the women's 70m team. (yan)