Rowers hope to retain supremacy in SEA Games
By Ivy Susanti
JAKARTA (JP): A popular children's song here holds that Indonesia's ancestor is a sailor. Indeed, rowing is almost a daily activity for those who live on the coast, which means a large amount of the population.
In the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam, which will start on Saturday, the Indonesian Rowing Association (PODSI) hopes to make a clean sweep of eight gold medals in the traditional boat race event.
Gold is expected from the men's and women's 400 meters and 800 meters, with a crew of 22, and the men's and women's 400 meters and 800 meters with a crew of 12.
In 1997 SEA Games, Indonesia won five gold and two silver medals from the traditional boat race events alone. The gold medals came from the men's 22-crew 500 meters, women's 12-crew 500 meters and 1000 meters, the men's 12-crew 1,000 meters and women's 22-crew 1,000 meters. Indonesia earned silver in the men's 12-crew 500 meters and women's 22-crew 500 meters.
Two years ago, Indonesia grabbed 25 out of 31 gold medals at stake. The remaining gold medals came from canoeing and rowing, which will not be featured at this year's Games.
The target of eight gold medals sounds realistic. Most of the boat racers in the national team grew up in regions where rowing is the only means of travel.
Moreover, Indonesian boat racers shone in two overseas stints ahead of the SEA Games: the pre-Olympics qualifying round in Singapore in June where national racers grabbed three golds and one silver and the international dragon boat race on Kee Lung river in Taiwan in June where the racers took first place.
Chairman of the Indonesian Rowing Association Achmad Sucipto said Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines would be tough contenders in the biennial event after he observed the results of the pre-Olympics qualifying round.
But in the dragon boat championships, Indonesian rowers surpassed the other 12 competing countries from Southeast Asia, the United States, Canada and Australia. In the men's event, the United States were second and Thailand was third. In the women's side, the United States also ranked second and Chinese Taipei was third.
PODSI secretary-general Budiman Setiawan said that Indonesia could not ascertain toughest rival Myanmar's real strength as the country only fielded its second stringers in the competitions.
Despite the optimism, PODSI also has problems training 50 racers.
Rowing coach Asrul Sani said that at the training camp at Jatiluhur dam in Purwakarta, West Java, he must work harder to develop their discipline and cohesiveness.
"They must have good teamwork if they really want to win in the Games. They have to practice in unison. If they have to walk or run to warm up, they should do it altogether," said Asrul, who used to teach rowing to marine officers in the Navy.
"Every night, we have a special meeting, where we mostly talk about ourselves. We want them to know each other by heart. And we also motivate them to give their very best for the country," he said.
Traditional Boat Race team lineup:
Men's: Abdul Karim, Absir, Ahmad Bahagia Noor, Amiruddin, Anisi, Armin, Asnawir, Boby Kurniawan, Dian Kurniawan, Didin Rusdiana, Dodong, Edwin Monim, Iwan Setiawan, John Travolta, Jordan Yorry Moua, La Dulu, La Ode Hadi, La Pada, Lampung, La Ode Ramsini, Roinadi, Saepul Rohman, Sugiono, Syamsul and Yairus Maay.
Women's: Amnah Hariyani, Cencen Kusnari, Deni Andriyani, Dewi Melva Andayani, Enie, Hatimin, Ida Hamzah, Jenny Selvis Yom, Justian, Leni Haini, Marjuna, Merry Monim, Mintauli Haloho, Mulyani, Putir Sinta, Rafika Sustiyani, Sabaria, Sarce Aronggear, Sri Mulyati, Suhartati, Suharti, Syamsuri, Tiolina Ceria, Wartini and Wiwi.