Squash body prepares athletes for SEA Games

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)