SEA Games women's team named
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) has named 12 players for the national women's basketball squad for the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games following trial games in China and Hong Kong.
"The team has made significant progress after trial sessions abroad, especially because it members are now braver to have body contact with their opponents," team manager Max B. Lamy told a media conference on Tuesday.
The selected players are Novabella, Asih Yuniastuti, Wulan Ayuningrum, Teresna Ninon Salemon and Puspa Indah Pamungkas Sari from Jakarta, Jane Johan and Tasia Albertina of West Java, Dwi Nofiriana, Dwi Ratna and Devy Yunita of East Java, Linda Wijaya of Central Java and Megawati Halim of Yogyakarta.
Missing in the lineup were Ciauliana of West Java and Linda Rusli of East Java.
"Actually, all players showed tremendous progress but still we had to reduce the team members. Linda and Ciauliana were vying for forward positions, for which we had a lot of good choices. If they train harder and perform better, they will be given a chance in the future."
Coach Wang Chang Yu said he was upbeat that his team could reach the final.
"I haven't seen how our opponents play, but I am sure we can reach the gold medal match. My players have improved both their shape and skills," he said through an interpreter.
"But they must strengthen their spirit in physical battle with their opponents."
New manager
In a separate development, the Indonesian Equestrian and Horse Racing Association (Pordasi) has named a new project manager and 15 riders.
Alfons Tungadi replaced Johan Pitoy, who resigned as project manager after an argument over training policies with other Pordasi officials.
"Most officials disagree with my decision to send to Malaysia only athletes with a chance of winning medals," Pitoy told reporters on Tuesday.
Another source of conflict, he said, is Pordasi's intention to cover the expenses of only the riders who pass the selection in three events in Cinere, South Jakarta, and Lembang, West Java.
"Opposition to my policies forced me to withdraw in order to keep the team working," he added.
Pitoy has been accused of misusing some Rp 197 million (US$20,700) of the training fund allocated to cover riders' daily expenses during the selection.
"I deliberately held onto the fund because Pordasi used Rp 12 million to pay a yearly fee to the equestrian world body, the FEI. Paying the fee has nothing to do with our training," said Pitoy.
Alfons, however, said paying the fee was a requirement for Indonesia's participation in the SEA Games.
Indonesia expects to grab two gold medals in the three-day event and dressage team events out of seven golds at stake in the SEA Games equestrian events. (nvn)