State firms mull sponsoring crop of junior tennis players

JAKARTA (JP): State enterprises are interested in sponsoring training programs for young Indonesian tennis players to lay the foundations for success in the future, treasurer of the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) Qoyum A. Tjandranegara said on Wednesday.

Qoyum told a media briefing that the state enterprises were now waiting for a detailed list of juniors who would receive the sponsorship, a competition schedule and estimated expenses from Pelti's official in charge of athletes development Sudjiono Timan.

"Some state enterprises have expressed their enthusiasm in funding the training of a minimum of two juniors. Later the sponsors will stage competitions to contest their players against others. However, we have yet to decide on who will receive the sponsorships," said Qoyum, who is also director of the state- owned gas company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN).

Qoyum also announced that 133 junior players from 20 countries would compete in the Indonesia Gas Negara International Junior Championship 2000. The competition, featuring 83 boys and 50 girls will take place at the Kemayoran Tennis Center in Central Jakarta from March 5 to March 12.

Pelti's official in charge of the competition Soebronto Laras said the championship was recognized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and was a part of the ITF Junior Circuit Group- 3.

"We have had to stage a prequalification because there are so many competitors, while ITF has only allowed 32 players in the main draw," he said.

"The juniors can test their skills in the championship because we invite them to the prequalifying round of the Asia-Oceania junior championship in May, scheduled to be staged here," he said, adding that it would be attended by 25 countries.

Separately, three Indonesian men's players reached the second round of the US$15,000 Indonesia Futures-2 at Kemayoran Tennis Center here on Wednesday.

Davis Cup team member Febi Widhiyanto will challenge Futures-1 winner Zbynek Mlynarik of Austria on Thursday. Febi beat Dirk Stegmann of South Africa 6-4, 6-1, while Mlynarik outclassed top seed Alsam Qureshi of Pakistan 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

Old hand Dede Suhendar Dinata of Indonesia barely sweated when beating Slovakian Vladimir Platenik 6-3, 6-0. Dede will challenge Rick De Voest of South Africa, who beat home player Andrian Raturandang 6-0, 6-2.

Another Davis Cup team member Suwandi outclassed fifth seeded Frantisek Babej of Slovakia 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-2). Suwandi will play Bjorn Jacob of Germany, who defeated Andrew McDade of South Africa 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Davis Cup team member Edy Kusdaryanto and Hendri Susilo Pramono made early exits. Edy bowed out to Frantisek Cermak of Czech Republic 2-6, 2-6, while Hendri lost to Slovakian Viktor Bruthans 4-6, 2-6. (ivy)