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)