Three provinces to dominate PON tennis

Three provinces to dominate PON tennis

JAKARTA (JP): Tennis observer Benny Mailili predicted Friday
three provinces would clean up gold medals at stake at the 15th
National Games (PON) in Surabaya next week due to the domination
of the provinces.

"All seven golds on offer will likely be taken by Jakarta with
an estimation of four golds, West Java one and East Java two. It
is because members of the men's and women's national team will
join the three provincial squads in PON."

Jakarta -- led by Wukirasih Sawondari, Irawati Moerid
Iskandar, Frederika Girsang and Eny Sulistyowati in the women's
side and Febi Widhiyanto, Hendri Susilo Pramono, Edy Kurdaryanto
and Ferdy Fauzi in the men's side -- is likely to grab the golds
in the women's team, women's doubles, men's team and men's
doubles.

East Java will possibly win the women's singles title from
Romana Tedjakusuma and the mixed doubles gold from defending
champion Romana and Bonit Wiryawan while West Java is predicted
to win the men's singles title from Suwandi.

Benny said Jakarta women's doubles of Wukirasih and Irawati
and men's doubles, Hendri and Edy or Febi, would have no strong
rivals in the quadrennial event.

"The Jakarta duo of either Hendri and Edy or Hendri and Febi
can only be challenged by Bonit and Sulistyo Wibowo but they are
split during PON. Sulistyo is competing for East Java."

Benny, who is also spokesman for the Indonesian Tennis
Association (Pelti), expects West Java to secure its only chance
in the men's singles.

"Suwandi will have a tough match against Febi as they both are
on the national team. East Java may have Peter Handoyo but he's
still too young while Suwandi's teammate Andrian Raturandang is
not as good as he used to be two years ago," he said.

Benny said in the women's side, West Java had talented young
players, Angelique Wijaya and Dea Sumantri.

"But this year's PON is definitely not their era. They're
still too young. However, it's a good sign that West Java has
already had youngsters for the next PON in Palembang, South
Sumatra, four years later."

Benny said Indonesia's number one women's singles Wynne
Prakusya, who competes for Central Java, will be absent this year
as she is concentrating on Wimbledon at the end of this month.

Wynne lost in the WTA tour in Tashkent on Thursday to Israeli
player Tzippora Obziler 7-5, 4-6, 5-7.

Speaking on the dominancy of the three provinces, Benny said
Pelti's provincial chapters were unable to provide training
facilities for young talent in their respective areas.

"During my visit to most provinces in Indonesia, the courts
are being dominated by old men playing instead of the youngsters.
It's not fair. Only certain provinces including East Kalimantan,
South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and Bali are able to supply good
talents to Pelti. We hope other chapters can follow their steps
to promote juniors," he said. (yan)