Swimmers have chance to rejoin SEA Games

Swimmers have chance to rejoin SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): Three national men's swimmers still have a
chance to compete in the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
in September despite the fact that they were excluded from the
decentralized training program.

"Twins Albert and Felix Susanto, and Steven Chandra still have
a chance to compete in the SEA Games as long as they can perform
well at the national championships in May. The championships will
serve as the final stage of selection," said Indonesian Swimming
Federation (PRSI) vice secretary-general Dadeng Kurnia.

Albert, the butterfly stroke and individual medley specialist,
Felix, the backstroke and individual medley specialist, and
Steven, the 1,500m specialist, were dropped from the squad
because they failed to reply to PRSI's letter calling them to
join the training program.

PRSI will miss Elsa Manora Nasution in the squad as she is
pregnant from her marriage with badminton star Ricky Subagja.

Women's breaststroke specialist Rita Mariani confirmed her
absence in the Games by sending a facsimile saying she withdrew
from the training program due to her studies in South Carolina.

Dadeng said, as quoted by Antara that PRSI would replace Rita
with either Diah Ayu Rahmini or Renate Lomban Toruan.

In diving, PRSI has been grooming Shenny Ratna Amelia for the
women's event. Shenny, the 1999 SEA Games gold medalist, is
expected to repeat her success in this year's biennial event.

Nani Suryani and Eka Purnama Indah will perform in the new
event, synchronized diving. Eka will also perform in the women's
springboard. (yan)