Three sports will not yield gold: KONI

Three sports will not yield gold: KONI

JAKARTA (JP): Vice chairman of the National Sports Council
(KONI) Arie Sudewo has expressed the pessimistic view that three
sports -- sepak takraw, hockey and squash -- would probably miss
the chance to win gold medals in the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA)
Games in Kuala Lumpur in September.

Arie, however, failed to explain the main target of sports
organizations in the biennial event in view of their underdog
status.

"Officials from sepak takraw, hockey and squash bodies have
said that their athletes would not be able to reach finals in
their respective sports, moreover to win gold medals. I think
they have been realistic about their target," he said Tuesday.

"I can understand their explanation. Even if we train for more
than 10 months, our hockey team will not be able to match
Malaysia, which is now in the world top ten and has performed in
the Olympic Games."

KONI held a special meeting with officials of sports
organizations to discuss their targets and training programs for
the SEA Games.

Arie said after the meeting that he had yet to count the medal
target based on the reports made by the organizations.

"I can't announce the medal target right now as I still have
to study it further. Moreover, three sports organizations;
shooting, taekwondo and golf did not attend today's meeting while
boxing and windsurfing have yet to submit their proposals."

Arie also expressed concern regarding the decision of some
sports organizations to keep fielding their senior athletes but
he was also happy with other bodies that would play juniors at
the games.

Separately, head of the swimming technical committee of the
Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI), Gerald HP Item, said
senior swimmers remain the country's backbone in next year's
event.

"There is a wide gap in skill between senior and junior
swimmers. We have been neglecting the development of junior
swimmers for years. However, it will depend on the seniors
whether they will still take part in the SEA Games," he said
without mentioning names.

Secretary general of the Indonesian Gymnastic Association
(Persani), Sri Hastuti Merdiko, said 31 gymnasts have started
training in eight provinces of North Sumatra, South Sumatra,
Riau, Lampung, Jakarta, West Java, East Java and South Sulawesi.

She said Persani would select 20 of them to perform in the
Games. The 20 gymnasts will include six men and six women for the
artistic event, three for the individual rhythmic event and five
for the team rhythmic event.

"We hope we can win no less than eight golds or the same
number we earned in the 1997 SEA Games. Hopefully, we can win
more," she said.

Sri, a former national gymnast herself, said Persani planned
to hire three Russian coaches.

"The coaches will help us with the correct movement. We are
not saying that the gymnasts will certainly win medals after
being coached by foreigners."

Indonesia will compete in 29 of the 32 sports at the Games.
(ivy)