Rookie athletes for Thai Open

Rookie athletes for Thai Open

JAKARTA (JP): Rookie short-distance runners form the backbone of the Indonesian team of eight for the Thailand Open track and field meet in Bangkok which starts today.

Member of the national men's 4 X 100 relay team Erwin Heru Susanto and SEA Games women's long jump silver medalist Rabaiya are the only Indonesian seasoned athletes to enter the championships which serve as the warm-up for the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand in December.

"We are concentrating on the short-distance races since we have a lot of talent in these events," Gurmilang Kartasasmita of the Indonesian track and field association said.

The association reserved SEA Games triple champion Mardi Lestari for another tournament in May, either in Chinese Taipei or the Philippines. (amd)