Tennis body targets five gold medals at SEA Games
Tennis body targets five gold medals at SEA Games
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association aims to win
five of the seven gold medals at the 19th SEA Games here in
October by recruiting the best players in the National Team
Board.
A meeting on Friday, led by the association's chairman Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja, agreed to name Wynne Prakusya, Irawati Moerid,
Wukirasih Sawondari and Liza Andriyani in the women's side.
It also named Andrian Raturandang, Suwandi, Bonit Wiryawan and
Sulistyo Wibowo in the men's side. The four players have been
part of the country's David Cup team since 1994.
Tennis training director Benny Mailili told Kompas that
Indonesia aimed to win the men's singles, the men's doubles, the
men's team, the mixed doubles and the women's teams.
Benny said selection was based on players' achievement in
recent tournaments.
Irawati, who made a comeback after retiring for more than a
year after the birth of her child, is strong in the singles and
doubles.
"Since she competed at the national selection and joined the
national team, Irawati has shown increasing achievement," Benny
said.
Liza's selection would be decided following a long discussion,
Benny said, as quoted by Antara.
"The selection criteria were athletes' preparation
technically, physically, mentally and their achievement. The
board agreed to only refer to the last one, achievement," he
said.
Liza reached the quarterfinals in the satellite tournaments in
Jakarta and Bandung. Her performance was better than teammates
Enny Sulistyowati and Mimma Chernovita, who joined the country's
Fed Cup team.
Benny said they would have to be wary of players from Thailand
and the Philippines.
Indonesia's women's team will fly to Chinese Taipei for a
tournament while the men's team will compete at the international
satellite tournament here.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Table Tennis Association promised to
hand over a Timor car to athletes who win four gold medals at the
Games.
Table tennis training director Noeryanto said Rossy Dipoyanti
won four golds at the 1993 Games in Singapore in the women's
singles, women's doubles, mixed doubles and women's team.
Noeryanto said Friday the association would also provide two-
way tickets and accommodation for athletes' families.
The association was optimistic national athletes would be able
to win more gold than at the last Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand,
where Indonesia only won four gold, four silver and two bronze.
The association is grooming five male and five female athletes
and hiring Chinese coach Xi Enting to train them.
"Enting gave us speed training program in defense, offense and
services," athlete Hadiyudo told Kompas.
"I will prepare better this time although I'll face tougher
rivals in the event," Rossy said. Rossy lost to Jin Juhong of
Singapore at the last Games.
The association named Hadiyudo, M. Al Arkam, Ismu Harinto,
Deddy Da Costa and Zainuddin in the men's side and Rossy
Dipoyanti, Putri Hasibuan, Yulianti, Mulatsih and Nuni Sugiani in
the women's side. (yan)