SEAG training chief to question Pelti

JAKARTA (JP): The 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games training director, Kusnan Ismukanto, said on Wednesday he would ask the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) to explain why it had called up men's singles Peter Handoyo to join the Games squad.

Kusnan said he had no idea why Pelti preferred to pick Peter, who has no national ranking, over seniors like Andrian Raturandang, Hendri Susilo Pramono and Febi Widhiyanto.

"I'll pay special attention to this case. I'll ask Pelti about it," he told reporters after a meeting with training officials at the office of the National Sports Council (KONI).

Kusnan said that basically a training director would not interfere in any decision made by a sports organization regarding its strategy for winning medals in the Games, which are to be held in Kuala Lumpur from Sept. 8 to Sept. 17.

"We don't want to interfere with Pelti's decision. It's up to them to pick their players for the Games. But the SEA Games tennis team manager Ibu Martina Widjaja told us that Pelti would call up the most senior players, who would be accompanied by juniors.

"In the future, hopefully the juniors will become successful in their own right. She also said that Pelti must take the necessary step to ensure the regeneration of the national squad."

Peter was called up to join the Games team along with Suwandi and doubles specialists Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo. The decision was made public in a special letter signed by Pelti chairman Tanri Abeng on Monday.

Peter leapfrogged over Andrian, Hendri and Febi, the Indonesian numbers 2, 3 and 4 singles respectively. All of the players had been nominated for the SEA Games team, plus junior Eko Kurniawan.

Hendri, Febi and Eko are currently competing in the German league.

Pelti's criteria in selecting its players remain unclear, but the association's spokesman Benny Mailili said Monday that a player's national ranking was not the only determinant.

Benny was quoted by Satusports.com as saying that Pelti had given Peter the opportunity of joining the squad. Moreover, Peter had pledged to compete in six satellite tournaments in preparation for the biennial event.

Pelti also named old hand Yayuk Basuki for the Games. She will be accompanied by Romana Tedjakusuma and juniors Wynne Prakusya and Angelique Widjaja.

The women's team will also play in the Fed Cup in Austria in July.

Kusnan also said that 16 out of 29 sports organizations had given commitments to finance their own training programs.

"Their commitments will benefit KONI because we will save some Rp 6.6 billion (US$570,000) which had earlier been allocated to support their athletes' training," he said.

The 16 organizations are the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI), the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), Pelti, the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina), the Indonesian Volleyball Federation (PBVSI), the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI), the Indonesian Judo Association (PJSI), the Indonesian Bowling Association (PBI), the Indonesian Equestrian and Horse Racing Association (Pordasi), the Indonesian Table Tennis Association (PTMSI), the Indonesian Golf Association (PGI), the Indonesian Squash Association (PSI), the Indonesian Karate-do Federation (Forki), the Indonesian Hockey Association (PHSI), the Indonesian Taekwondo Association (TI) and the Indonesian Wushu Association (WI). (ivy)