Shooting association allots Rp 1.b for Asiad training

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Shooting and Hunting Association's chairman, Sutiyoso, announced yesterday that the association would provide Rp 1.3 billion (US$140,540) for its athletes long-term training program for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December.

Speaking after his installation ceremony at the National Sports Council headquarters, Sutiyoso said the association was preparing five female athletes -- Silvia Silimang, Supadmi, Rinadwi, Marga and Titin Indawati -- but only three would compete in the Asiad's women's double trap team and individual events.

"The association, with assistance from our sponsors, will fully finance the training. We'll groom them for three months under the guidance of Chinese coaches," said Sutiyoso, who is also the Jakarta governor.

"If they don't progress in three months, I won't send them to the Games because it would mean spending money for nothing. On paper, they must win golds," he said.

Indonesia won the silver in the women's double trap team event at the 1994 Asiad in Hiroshima, Japan. The national shooters' toughest rivals will be athletes from China and ex-Soviet countries.

Sutiyoso said he would also provide the money to repair sports facilities in the city from the city budget. "I'm still estimating the figure."

Departure

Earlier, the Indonesia's 13th Asian Games training director, Muhammad Hindarto, said the country's contingent would depart for Bangkok in stages during December to save the council's money during the economic meltdown.

"We can't afford to rent an airplane to take the big contingent to Bangkok. We'll take regular Garuda flights," he said.

The athletes will leave the country three days before the Games opening. "The weather in Bangkok and Jakarta are the same. Our athletes don't need time to adjust to the weather."

He also said the athletes' accommodation would be based on competition schedules. "When athletes have finished their competition, they will head home directly and their place can be taken by their teammates just arriving from Jakarta."

This will save on athletes and coaches allowances, which is US$30 per athlete per day and $40 per coach per day, and on accommodation which is $60 per athlete per day.

Hindarto said the amount from the State Budget to send the national contingent to the Asiad would be Rp 3 billion (US$324,325).

The council will announce the names of contingent members by the end of August. Athletes who fail to reach the Asian top four will be excluded from the squad.

Stickers

The 19th SEA Games Consortium chairman, Bambang Trihatmodjo, said after yesterday's installation as the association's practical shooting department chairman that he was not satisfied with the consortium's income from sticker sales.

"I'm not satisfied because the consortium is not authorized to audit state-owned companies such as PLN and Telkom. But I hope you (journalists) don't overstate the news because our country is facing economic turmoil at the moment," he said.

"The consortium has suffered a Rp 68 billion deficit but that was the risk we took," he added.

The consortium still owes Rp 23 billion to Bank Alfa (formerly Bank Andromeda) and Bank Artha Graha and Rp 39.8 billion to Bambang Trihatmodjo.

Separately, the SEA Games rowing organizers' secretary, Lina Haroen, said the consortium still owed Rp 60 million to the organizers.

The money was used to prepare the venues, build accommodation for athletes, coaches and officials and pay for local sports equipment. (yan)