Sports achievements

Sports achievements

From Media Indonesia

We are not very happy with the achievements of our sports teams in the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan. Three of the gold medals won by the Indonesian team were from Badminton event. We are disappointed because they lost in the women's singles.

The failure will, hopefully, serve as a strong motivation for sports leaders to improve and enhance the system of training of athletes.

They should seriously think of early training for potential athletes selected from schools. We must develop the talents of our younger generation. The problem is not all schools have the sports facilities needed for this purpose.

At school students should not only be taught technical skills but they should have a sense of discipline as well. We know that sports facilities are no guarantee to success. Other factors are also essential and important. Qualified trainers and coaches, healthy food, funds and a strong positive attitude.

We remember the Indonesian national soccer team of the 1950s. The team was brilliant and popular, even in the eyes of foreign teams. Soccer fans still remember such rare stars as Jamiat, Ramang, Saelan, Omo, Kiat Sek, and Liong Houw.

What's happened to the present team? Facilities and funds are much better than in the past. Yet their achievements are not on par with those made by the above mentioned players. And in those days the players had to bear much of the burden themselves, including transport costs to the training field. They also had to pay contributions to their club. I am sure they never thought of getting pocket money from their club or financial rewards from sponsors for what they had achieved. It is surprising that under such conditions, they were determined to achieve their best.

TJANDRA R. MULYADI

Jakarta