Squash body prepares athletes for SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Squash Association (PSI) is preparing its athletes for the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games but it is keeping a low profile by saying athletes were only seeking experience from the event.

"There are 16 athletes being groomed for the SEA Games at our training center in Jakarta. We'll reduce the total to eight athletes through a national selection in Bandung next January," said PSI chairman Bondan Gunawan after his installment in his new post on Friday.

"We aren't too ambitious at setting high expectations for our athletes. Their participation is only to get more experience. Malaysia is still too strong for us," he said.

The PSI official in charge of technology, research and development, Bambang Gatot Subroto, said Indonesia had a chance to steal a medal.

"At least we could grab a silver from the men's team event if we beat Singapore. It's still impossible for us to beat Malaysia in the finals. About 80 percent of our athletes are junior players," he said.

"We'll have a try-out match with Pakistan as part of our preparation for the Games."

Bambang also said Indonesia would send three juniors to the Asian Championships in Madras, India, next February.

"We'll send Juwita to the girls' event. And we'll have to select two players from Borman Subroto, Junius Lengkong and Agus Rante Tasak for the boys' event," he said.

"Our players need to have more playing experience. PSI will try to hold more tournaments here as well as send players to circuits abroad."

Speaking on his program at a brief ceremony at the State Palace, Bondan -- the former secretary of government supervision -- said PSI would focus on promoting the sport throughout the country.

"We want to introduce squash at the elementary schools as the base of our development program. It's also important to explain that squash isn't such an expensive sport," he said.

"After the SEA Games, PSI will hold exhibitions involving celebrities, expatriates and international players."

"We must admit, however, that squash is more popular in Commonwealth countries. No wonder Malaysia and Singapore have good athletes," added Bondan.

Spokesman Ari Sihasale, who is also an actor, also said promotion was an important thing to popularize squash.

"Squash is not an expensive sport to play. You can get equipment of a reasonable quality for only Rp 500,000 (US$53)," he said.

"Even if you don't have the money, you can rent the equipment here at a cheap price." (nvn)