Softball to make comeback in SEA Games

Softball to make comeback in SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Softball Association urged
yesterday the National Sports Council to include softball among
medal events in the upcoming 19th Southeast Asian Games here next
year.

Suryo Adi Prasetyo, secretary-general of the association, and
training director Doedie Gambiro said in a hearing with the
council that four countries support Indonesia's bid to bring the
sport back into the SEA Games arena.

The supporting countries are Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and
the Philippines.

However, Doedi said that the development of the sport in the
country is far from encouraging.

"Our women's national team has is from West Java, while the
men's team desperately relies on Jakarta athletes," Doedie said.

Softball made its last appearance in the SEA Games in 1991,
with the Philippines sweeping the two gold medals. Indonesia
finished second in both men's and women's events.

To prepare its athletes for the SEA Games, the association
will send them to take part in international tournaments in New
Zealand and Chinese Taipei.

"We'll also invite a foreign coach who will drill our players
in pitching and hitting for about three or four months," Suryo
said.

Doedie admitted that Indonesian women's and men's teams have
rather unimpressive records due to a lack of international
experience.

"But other Southeast Asian countries also face the same
problem," he said.

The association will stage the Rimbawan national men's
championship, which is usually held every even year, in Bandung,
West Java, this April. The women's Rimbawati championship takes
place every odd year. (05)