Table tennis hopes to serve up two golds

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Table Tennis Association (PTMSI) has set its sight on two of the seven golds on offer in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month.

R.M. Noeryanto, PTMSI's official in charge of athletes development, said on Wednesday the country's strongest chances for gold were in the men's doubles and team events at the biennial event from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

Malaysia's men's team and Singapore's women's team are rated particularly strong rivals due to the presence of Chinese-born players.

"Malaysia has two Chinese players on its men's team and Singapore has three Chinese players on the women's team," he said during the inauguration of the national contingent.

Noeryanto said Malaysia's Chinese-born team members was 1998 Asian junior champion Liu Jun-hui and Zhao Lin-jing. Both played for Malaysia in the 1997 World Championships and 1998 Asian Championships.

"We only have a slight chance in the men's singles because their technical skills are better. We can only hope in the men's doubles and team events," he said.

Singapore has Chinese citizen Jin Jun-hong, who is world ranked eighth, Lee Jia-hwei and Liu Yuan-yuan.

"It would be difficult for our women's singles and team to steal the gold because the Singapore team is very strong. Our chance in the mixed doubles is only 50-50," he said.

Indonesian squad members are playing in five Chinese towns for a months. They return to Jakarta on Aug. 2 and depart for Brunei on Aug. 3.

PTMSI is grooming 10 players in Kediri, East Java. They are Anton Suseno, Deddy Rudolf Da Costa, Ersan Sutanto Tan, Hadi Judoprajitno, Muhammad Al Arkam in the men's team and Ceria Nilasari Jusma, Christine Ferliana Santoso, Fauziah Yulianti, Putri Septi Naulina Hasibuan and Rossi Pratiwi Dipoyanti on the women's team.

Tennis

SEA Games tennis training director Martina Widjaja said on Wednesday that training would be conducted at the PGN tennis hall in West Jakarta despite the refusal of two men's players, Febi Widhiyanto and Hendri Susilo Pramono, to stay at the training complex.

Febi and Hendri earlier turned down the Indonesian Tennis Association's (Pelti) offer to stay at PT PGN's dormitory and said they preferred to stay at the home of their coach, Deddy Prasetyo.

Martina said she had informed Pelti chairman Tanri Abeng and Pelti's official in charge of athletes development, Sudjiono Timan, about the matter.

"If the chairman says the two players should not be included in the squad, then it's OK. Besides, what do we expect in the men's division?"

The country has targeted three golds. Two years ago, national players won golds in the women's singles, doubles and team events and men's doubles and team.

Pelti picked Febi, Hendri, Suwandi and Yusmawan Fahmi for the men's team and Wynne Prakusya, Romana Tedjakusuma, Liza Andriyani and Wukirasih Sawondari on the women's team. They are coached by Tintus Sulistyo Wibowo and Suharyadi. (ivy)