S'pore withdraws from canoeing, rowing
JAKARTA (JP): Apparently aware that it would not win rowing golds at the 19th SEA Games, Singapore has decided to withdraw from canoeing, and the fours and eights rowing events.
Indonesian Rowing Association chairman Basoeki said yesterday that the Indonesian Sports Council would lobby Singapore to change its mind.
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia will compete in the rowing and canoeing events.
"But if other countries withdraw, we may have to cancel the event," Basoeki said.
The regional sports meet will run from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19, with the rowing, canoeing and traditional boat races being held on Jatiluhur lake in Purwakarta, West Java.
"I think the Singaporeans would have a better chance in the canoeing and rowing than in the traditional boat race," Basoeki said.
The Games will feature 12 canoeing, 11 rowing and eight traditional boat race events.
The association says accommodation problems are still not settled, and some athletes may have to stay at the Horison Hotel in Bekasi, about 70 kilometers from the dam.
The rowing organizers' secretary, Lina Harun, said that she was still waiting to hear if the Pupuk Kujang hotel in Cikampek, about 30 kms from the dam, could house athletes.
"If the hotel can accommodate the athletes, they won't have to travel that far to get to the venue," she said.
Some athletes will stay at the Sahid Cikarang, about 50kms from the dam.
The organizers are still waiting for the Rp 450 million (US$169,800) promised to them by the Games consortium. The funds are earmarked for setting up cabins for the athletes and referees, the events secretariat, the control commission, the medical team and the drug testing team. The money will also be used to build temporary starting gates, a pier and toilets.
The Rp 300 million boathouse has been completed.
Basoeki said the organizers had set up competition lanes but had to move them because there was an island between the start and finish poles.
The association is aiming to win 25 rowing golds from the 31 on offer at the Games. It is sending nine male and six female kayak rowers, five male Canadian rowers and seven polo canoers to South Korea for an international competition from Sept. 3 to Sept. 8.
Single sculls rower Lasmin will compete at an international competition in France from Aug. 30 to Sept. 7.
Yachting
Yachting coach Iskandar Sitompul said yesterday that the essential racing equipment had arrived on Aug. 3 but the Indonesian Yachting Association was having trouble getting it out of the port.
"I don't know why it's so difficult to get the equipment out of the port. As the host, we should try out the equipment before the Games. There's one container carrying design boards and race boards. But we still have no idea what they look like," he said.
Yachting training director Subagio Sutjitro said more equipment was expected to arrive on Sept. 15.
The association, which wants to win four of the 15 yachting golds, says Singapore and Thailand will be the hardest countries to beat.
The association will field the following athletes: I Gusti Made Oka Sulaksana, Yusuf Faisal, Nanang Suhendi, Ray Gunadi (one design mistral), Abdul Malik Faisal, Micky Sampelan, Fadly Faisal (male race board), Yuni Trisnawati (female race board), Kusdiana Adi, Franky Rene (Hobie 16 feet), Pudji Irianto Ganefo, Kris Subiantoro (Fire ball), Ario Dipo Subagio, Ujang Supriatna (470), Sujatmiko Siswanto (Laser), Regatta Tri Setya (male Optimist under-15), Yuni Kartika (female Optimist under-15), Dian Puspita Rini (Europe), Djoko Susilo, Subakti (Enterprise), Bobby Sulistyanto, Herbito Igustino (male 420), Antaresti, Dewi (female 420). (yan)