'Sepak takraw' squad to train in Malaysia

JAKARTA (JP): The men's national sepak takraw squad plans to train in Malaysia soon as preparation for the SEA Games here next year.

"Twelve athletes, who will compete in the Games, are going to have a stint with Malaysian athletes," Aminuddin Machmud, the Indonesian Sepak Takraw Association's executive director, said yesterday in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

Indonesia expects to win two gold medals from the women's team and regu events. But in the men's events the country will face tough challenges from Malaysia and Thailand.

"We picked Malaysia because its team is a threat to us in the Games," Aminuddin said.

Eighteen athletes from five provinces - nine from South Sulawesi, five from West Java, three from Central Sulawesi, one from East Java and one from Central Kalimantan - are based at the national training center in Ujungpandang.

Another center has also been established in Pekanbaru, Riau, and is grooming the same number of athletes.

Antara reported that only 12 athletes from both centers will be picked for the Games' squad.

Indonesia wants to meet either Thailand or Malaysia in the men's team and regu finals, according to Aminuddin. Its last notable achievement was winning the 1996 Hanoi Open International Championship after defeating Thailand in the final. (yan)