SEA Games team place held open for Yayuk

JAKARTA (JP): Yayuk Basuki can still join the team for the 19th SEA Games here in October, the Indonesian Tennis Association and National Sports Council announced yesterday.

The association's chairman, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, told a press conference that Indonesia's best tennis player would not have a problem fitting in the Games with her ambition to improve her WTA rankings.

"If Yayuk wants to play in all the overseas tournaments which she has nominated, she still has time to join the Games squad," he said, adding that she would have to decide whether to join the team before a council deadline.

"Based on our analysis, there won't be a clash between Yayuk's tournament program and the Games," he added.

Yayuk, world ranked 26, plans to play at the Italian Open, the French Open, a tournament in Lisbon and Wimbledon.

"Yayuk's nationalism has been proved. She's one of the pro players who often joins the Fed Cup team. I think we should leave her to make the decision," Sarwono said.

"She can go for the tournaments comfortably so long as she takes care of her health," he added.

Yayuk submitted a letter to the association last month saying that she would not play in the Games because she wanted to make the world's top 20.

Sarwono told reporters not to sensationalize Yayuk's refusal to join the team.

"Let's neutralize the news on sport. Nothing is special in this matter," he said.

Sarwono said the association would hire Eastern Europeans to coach the national women's team.

"We hope we can contract two coaches but if we can only afford one, the coach will train the women's team," he said.

The council's chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, supported the association's decision to give Yayuk more time.

"It's good policy to let Yayuk improve her world ranking while keeping the door open for her to join the Games squad," he said.

"I also respect the association's decision to contract a foreign coach. The coach will boost our coaches quality in future," he added.

Sarwono said the association would keep its commitment to support Yayuk financially while she tried to make the top 20 even though she had withdrawn from the 1997 Danamon Women's Open because of a multiple tendinitis injury only three days before the tournament.

Yayuk, who was top seeded for the US$107,500 tournament, would rest for a week, said Philippa Stewart, the Corel WTA Tour Primary Health Care Provider.

The association plans to give the 26-year-old player $10,000 cash to improve her ranking.

"Although she's absent from the Danamon Open, the association will still provide the money as long as her tournament programs are clear," Sarwono said.

Wang Shi Ting of Chinese Taipei has replaced Yayuk as the top seed at the Open which began yesterday. Yuko Hosoki of Japan has replaced Yayuk's place in the draw.

Indonesia's pair of Liza Andriyani and Irawati M. Iskandar failed to qualify for the main draw after they lost to first- seeded K Ishida and KJ Won of Japan 2-8 in yesterday's qualifier.

Ishida/Won then lost 5-8 to EH Kim/M Kuki, who qualified for today's main draw.

Liza, who has a main draw wild card, will challenge Jane Taylor of Australia today. Compatriot Mimma Chernovita, also with a wild card, will meet Jane Chi of the USA. (yan)