Soesilo named best sporting prime mover

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Sportswriters Association (SIWO Jaya) has nominated the late chairman of the Indonesian Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association, Soesilo Soedarman, as the country's best sporting prime mover.

Chapter members decided at a meeting over the weekend that weightlifting had been the most impressive sport in 1997, primarily because Patmawati and Winarni won gold medals at the world championships in Bangkok.

Patmawati and Winarni also captured gold medals at the 19th SEA Games in October.

The journalists agreed the weightlifters' success was because thanks to Soesilo, who led the organization until his death in December.

Soesilo was coordinating minister for political affairs and security when he died Dec. 18 after suffering lung disease complications. He was 69 years old.

He led the association for eight years and was always concerned about the national weightlifters and powerlifters.

Apart from Soesilo, SIWO Jaya also selected candidates for the best athletes, coaches and teams categories. The best athletes. coaches and teams will be announced after another meeting in February.

The candidates are:

Male athlete: Chandra Wujaya/Sigit Budiarto (badminton), Richard Sam Bera (swimming), Jonathan Sianturi (gymnastics), Hermensen Ballo (boxing) and Ade Rai (bodybuilding).

Female athlete: Winarni, Patmawati (weightlifting), Nurhayati (cycling), Supriyati Sutono (athletics) and Yayuk Basuki (tennis).

Men's team: rowing, bridge, volleyball and softball.

Women's team: rowing, karate, beach volleyball and tennis.

Coaches: Atik Djauhari/Christian Hidinata (badminton), imron Rosadi (weightlifting) Wahydi/Endang Subagio (cycling) Ismail Karback (rowing). (lnt)