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)