SEAG training chief to question Pelti

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)