Twice-Asiad winner Oka eying Olympic glory

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After winning gold medals in the last two Asian Games, Indonesian windsurfer Oka Sulaksana is now intent on going one step better: taking gold at the Olympics.

Interviewed on the sidelines of an awards ceremony for athletes at the National Sports Council (KONI) offices here on Monday, Oka seemed to still be on the crest of a wave following his victory in the 2002 Asian Games, and expressed the hope that he would continue his Asian domination over the next five years.

"I can do it for maybe the next four or five years," the 31- year-old from Bali said after he was awarded Rp 250 million (US$27,777) for his gold in Busan.

Oka's triumph in South Korea produced one of the only four gold medals the Indonesian contingent brought home. It was his second gold after the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, where the Indonesian contingent managed to win six gold medals.

Oka, who is ranked 104th in the world, said he was now enthusiastic about his next campaign, the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"I will be looking to improve on my ranking from Sydney," he said. He finished in 16th position in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Oka will have to take part in at least three of the seven qualifying races planned for the Olympics. He completed the first race at the Olympic ground in Athens last August, where he finished in the top ten.

He signaled he could have done even better had he had sufficient preparation. "I prepared poorly. But, still, I managed to finish in the top ten," he said.

The next qualifying round will be in Pattaya, Thailand, from Dec. 4 through Dec. 15, where he will seek to emulate his Athens run. The third qualifying round will take place in Europe.

In the ceremony, KONI awarded the Indonesian contingent's medal winners bonuses amounting to Rp 250 million for a gold, Rp 100 million for a silver and Rp 50 million for a bronze.

There were a total of 34 medal winners, who produced Indonesia's haul of four golds, seven silvers and 12 bronzes from badminton, tennis, karate, windsurfing, cycling, beach volleyball, weightlifting, rowing and tae kwon do.

Coaches also received recognition in the form of half the cash award received by their athletes. The Indonesian contingent in Busan consisted of 100 athletes competing in 19 sports.