Two male lifters improve on personal bests

Two male lifters improve on personal bests

JAKARTA (JP): Two male lifters have set personal bests in
first-phase training for the 13th Asian Games, bolstering their
chances of being named to the team to compete in Bangkok in
December.

The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding
Association's secretary-general, Djoko Pramono, said Erwin
Abdullah and Zulkarnaen would have an increased chance of
competing at the quadrennial event if they continued to improve.

"If we look at their progress during the first-phase training
which culminates at the end of this month, I'm very optimistic,"
he said. "We still have seven months to decide the prospective
medal winners to compete at the event."

Erwin Abdullah, winner of gold in the 70kg class at the 19th
SEA Games here last October, has improved on his personal best by
five kilograms.

Zulkarnaen, who was not named to the SEA Games squad, has
lifted 280kgs, 2.5kgs above his previous best.

The association's technical commission deputy, Harry Wibowo,
said officials had been striving to improve the performances of
12 lifters to have them rank among the top four in Asia for their
respective weight classes.

"That's the requirement from the National Sports Council (to
compete in the Asiad)," Harry said. "We'll try hard to boost our
athletes' form so they can rank in the top four in Asia."

Sri Indriyani, Winarni, Sriyani, Supeni and Fatmawati will be
on the women's team, and Hari Setiawan, Taufik, Misdan,
Zulkarnaen, Sutrisno, Erwin Abdullah and Joko Hanggono are the
members of the men's squad.

Sri, Winarni, Sriyani, Hari, Taufik and Erwin each won one
gold in the SEA Games.

Harry said tight drugs screening by the International
Weightlifting Federation had increased the lifters' motivation
because they realized the competition was fairer.

He said this was proven last December when Patmawati and
Winarni won two golds and one bronze at the World Championships
in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (yan)