Romana shoots for golden sweep in SEAG tennis
Romana shoots for golden sweep in SEAG tennis
JAKARTA (JP): Women's singles defending champion Romana
Tejakusuma vowed yesterday to play her best at the 18th Southeast
Asian Games in Chiang Mai -- but refused to talk about her silent
rivalry with teammate Yayuk Basuki.
Romana said she is in top form and prepared to retain her gold
medal, thanks to her overseas stint in the United States. The 21-
year-old player left Indonesia four months ago for her university
in Houston, Texas.
"I always dream of winning another gold medal in the SEA
Games," she said as she prepared for the Asian Tennis
Championships in Manila, which start on Monday.
Romana maintained Indonesia's grip on SEA Games tennis in her
debut two years ago. In the absence of Yayuk, she won the singles
crown and led a triumphant national women's team.
Romana just rejoined the national team last Monday, but she
surprised coach Deddy Prasetyo with her rejuvenated speed and
power.
"She has improved dramatically. I have no doubt that she will
play an all-Indonesian final with Yayuk in Chiang Mai," coach
Deddy said. Romana made her last appearance for Indonesia in the
Federation Cup in Italy last July. She lost in two singles
matches, but Indonesia won the division cup match 3-2.
Romana will also team up with Bonit Wiryawan in the mixed
doubles. Deddy predicted that Romana will again meet Yayuk, who
will team up with Sulistyo Wibowo in the mixed doubles final.
The East Javanese player won a national college championship
in Houston and reached the quarterfinals in a professional
tournament in Texas during her stay abroad.
Both Yayuk and Romana will compete in four events, each in
order to improve Indonesia's chances for the first clean sweep
ever in SEA Games tennis competition.
"Winning all seven tennis gold medals is a realistic target if
I am correct about my players' fitness," Deddy said.
Romana kept quiet when asked about a possible final match
against world-number-23 Yayuk. "I don't want to talk about it
right now. I just hope that gold medals remain in Indonesia's
hands," she said.
Yayuk, whose world ranking outshines those of her SEA Games
rivals, will top the seeding list, with Romana placed second.
Romana has not met Yayuk in a tournament in the past two
years. It was in 1993 when Romana reached her highest world
ranking of 90, which earned her an inclusion in the Women Tennis
Association Tour's 1994 yearbook.
Her ranking, however, dropped rapidly last year. Currently,
she is ranked among the world's top 200.
The Indonesian SEA Games women's team also includes Maria
Veronica Widyadharma and Mimma Chernovita. Both will make their
second appearance at the regional sporting meet.
The Indonesian Tennis Association picked a newcomer, Edy
Kusdaryanto, and veteran Sulistyo to form the men's team. Men's
singles gold medalist Suwandi and doubles specialist Bonit
completed the line-up.
The national team will play their final tune-up for the Games
in the Asian Championships in Manila. The event will serve as a
qualifying round for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Yayuk, the only Indonesian to qualify for the Olympic tennis
competition, will play doubles with Romana. (amd)