Sri Indriyani tipped for silver in Bangkok

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is pinning its hopes of winning a silver medal at the 13th Asian Games weightlifting competition in Bangkok next month on Sri Indriyani.

The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Body building Association executive chairman, Budiono Kartohadiprodjo, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that Indriyani's only serious challenge in the women's 48-kg division would come from the Chinese.

"With Chinese lifters looking invincible, Indri can expect to finish second and take the silver. Indri has so far fared better then her teammates in the training center," Budiono said on the sidelines of the Matoa Nasional Open golf tournament in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

World junior gold medalist Indriyani, who won the 46-kg class at the 19th Southeast Asian Games last year, snatched 83 kgs to surpass the International Weightlifting Federation's standard by five kilograms in the newly introduced 48-kg class in August's national selection event.

She also hoisted 100 kgs in the clean and jerk, 12.5 kgs below the world record.

The overall world record is held by Li Xuezhao of China who lifted a total of 192.5 kgs. Li scored 80 in snatch and 112.5 in the clean and jerk.

Budiono warned, however, that excess weight could cost Indriyani a medal at the upcoming Asiad.

"She weighed about 50 kgs when she surpassed the world standard. She has to reduce her weight by two kilos if she wishes to bag a medal," he said.

Budiono said the country's other medal-winning hopefuls would be Supeni and Winarni, who both are in the 53-kg division.

A country is allowed to field a maximum of three representatives in any weight division, but Budiono hinted that the two female lifters would be split as part of the team's strategy.

"They should not compete in the same category because it will reduce our chances of winning medals. I'm optimistic that one of them can steal a medal," he said.

Budiono said one of the two lifters might move up to the 58-kg division.

A participating country is allowed to decide which lifter will compete in any weight category after the morning weigh-in prior to the competition.

In the men's division, Indonesia will not expect too much from Erwin Abdullah and Taufik, according to Budiono.

"They will face tough rivals from ex-Soviet countries and China. They will be lucky if they can finish among the top five," Budiono said. (yan)