Synchronized swimming may be in Games

Synchronized swimming may be in Games

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's bid to include synchronized swimming
as a medal event in the upcoming 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
here next year received a major boost yesterday as the
International Swimming Body (FINA) chief Mustapha Larfaoui
revealed his approval of the plan.

Larfaoui said after his meeting with chairman of the National
Sports Council Wismoyo Arismunandar yesterday that Southeast Asia
was a fertile region for the new branch of swimming to grow.

"The region should not waste its great potential in
synchronized swimming," Larfaoui said.

Synchronized swimming made its debut as an Olympic medal event
in Barcelona in 1992, but has yet to be admitted in a smaller
event like the SEA Games.

The Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) introduced the new
sport as an exhibition event during the just-concluded National
Games as a preparation for the SEA Games.

Larfaoui toured Jakarta as a guest of the Indonesian swimming
body after observing facilities for the 2000 Olympic Games in
Sydney. Both Larfaoui and Wismoyo also discussed the development
of swimming in the country.

Indonesia has been poised to include synchronized swimming in
the SEA Games in an attempt to reduce Thailand's domination in
the pool.

PRSI chairman Rahardi Ramelan has guaranteed that inclusion of
the sport would give Indonesia a great chance to win three gold
medals in solo, duet and team events. Ramelan said Thailand,
Singapore and Malaysia were considered tough contenders.

Larfaoui also said that he would help Indonesian swimmers
perform commendably during the SEA Games by sending experts for
coaching clinics here.

The Algerian-born world swimming chief hailed Indonesia's
talents like Richard Sam Bera, Wisnu Wardhana, Catherine Surya
and Elsa Manora Nasution, but suggested that they needed good
coaches and more competitions. (yan)