Table tennis body yet to exclude Suseno from training program

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Table Tennis Association has not yet excluded top player Anton Suseno from the 19th SEA Games training program due to his refusal to go to China for an overseas stint.

The association's secretary-general Johnny Waworuntu said the organization received a letter from Anton Thursday saying that he would not go to China for family business reasons.

"We never forced him to go to China but we need confirmation if he comes with us or not," Johnny said.

Anton had urged the association to change its training program. The association always sends its athletes to China but they never have adequate sparring partners.

The association would send 14 athletes to Beijing Wednesday for six weeks before eight of them take part in the World Championships, which would be held in Manchester, England, from April 24 to May 5. The other athletes would train in China until September.

After the championships, the athletes would return to Jakarta before leaving for China in June for final preparation for the Games.

"The decision whether the association will still include him in the training depends on an official meeting soon," Johnny said.

Johnny disagreed with Anton and said Indonesian athletes still have problems beating Chinese players.

"It doesn't matter if the Chinese players are seniors or juniors. We must see the reality. We still can't beat them. We're below their standard," he said.

Johnny said Hadiyudo Prajitno, who joined the national squad, reached a high standard after an overseas stint in China.

The association faces the problem of Asep Ajidusaleh's withdrawal. Asep wants to concentrate on his new job as a public employee at the West Java administration office.

The association is to send men's players Hariyudo, M Al Arkam, Deddy da Costa, Isman Haryanto, M Zaenuddin, Irsan Susanto and Yon Mardiono to China. The women's squad will include Rossy Pratiwi Dipoyanti, Mulatsih, Fauziah Yulianti, Nuni Sugiani, Ruri Raung, Santi and Yuni.

On another occasion, golf training director Johny Sujaka said the Indonesian Golf Association would send three golfers to Perth for an overseas stint for five months and seven players to Melbourne for three months.

Annie Iman, Titi and Retno are scheduled to take part in a competition in the Philippines next month before continuing their training in Perth. (yan)