Three archers named for Asian championships

Three archers named for Asian championships

JAKARTA (JP): Especially tough preparations for the Olympic Games has forced Indonesia to name a tiny team of three men for the IX Asian Archery Championships in Bangkok in March.

Rahantoknam, newly elected secretary general of the Indonesian Archery Association, told reporters after a hearing with the National Sports Council here yesterday that the association had no options but to send 18th Southeast Asian Games veterans Syafruddin Mawi, Hendra Setijawan and Wahyu Hidayat to the Asian meet.

The championships will decide Asian rankings, which will in turn determine entry to the upcoming Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, this summer.

"We decided not to ask our women's team because they have already qualified for the Olympics. They will concentrate on their Olympic preparations at home, instead," Rahantoknam said. The centralized training program will kick off tomorrow.

The Indonesian trio of Nurfitriyana Lantang, Hamdiah and Dahliana landed their country its third successive Olympic berth after taking a bronze in the 38th World Archery Championships here last year.

Rahantoknam said the archers, who won a gold in the SEA Games, would be sent back home to their respective provinces if they failed in the Asian championships.

"They would do well to focus on their preparations for the National Games in September," he said. (05)