S'pore withdraws from canoeing, rowing

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)