Two thirds of SEA Games bodies yet to start training

JAKARTA (JP): Only eleven of Indonesia's 34 SEA Games-bound sports organizations started their centralized training programs by Nov. 2, even though the country's SEA Games preparatory committee repeatedly asked them to start the programs by then.

Committee chairman Maj. Gen. Togi Hutagaol told a press conference at the National Sports Council headquarters yesterday that the country's judo, volleyball, table tennis, gymnastics, track and field, cycling, golf, tennis, wushu, badminton and boxing associations are the 11 which began the programs on Nov. 1.

The other organizations, however, were unable to meet the deadline but told the committee they would start by next month. "The Indonesian Basketball Association, for instance, has told us it will begin its program next month while the Indonesian Rowing Association will set up its training camp at the end of this month," Hutagaol said.

"But there is an association which will only get its best athletes together in March," Hutagaol added. He failed to mention which association he meant as he rummaged through his papers to find the training program schedule which, he said, had been given to him by the late starters.

"I do not know for sure why they cannot all start at the same time. But do they need to start together? I don't think this will greatly affect the quality of their preparations," he said.

"I believe each of the organizations has its own wisdom and criteria in determining when they should begin their programs. They may not start the programs yet but I believe their athletes have been training hard already.

"Moreover, their lateness might be planned to ensure their athletes reach their peak performances in October," he said. Jakarta will host the 19th SEA Games from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

Of course, there are other reasons for such lateness. Nico Akuba of the Indonesian Water Ski Association, for instance, said the association could not start its centralized training program this month because most of its top athletes are working.

"We cannot force them. After all, they have to work to earn a living," Akuba said.

Problems

As for in-form athletes who have refused to join the centralized programs in Jakarta, Hutagaol said he was not aware what had happened to them but promised to discuss this problem with their respective sports organizations.

"We will deal with this on a case-per-case basis," Hutagaol said. Track and field athletes Tri Asih Handayani of Central Java, Ni Ketut Mudiani of Bali, Rumini of Central Java and Martini Kustiyah of West Java have turned down the Indonesian Track and Field Association's invitation to join its centralized training program in Jakarta.

Handayani said she would not go to Jakarta without her coach, who was not invited to coach at the Jakarta camp. Mudiani could not make it because of family reasons she would not reveal. Rumini has just been appointed as lecturer at a state-owned pedagogy institute. Kustiyah has to tend to his sick husband.

During the press conference, Hutagaol also announced each SEA Games-bound athlete will be entitled to Rp 300,000 per month in pocket money during the training program. They will also be given Rp 75,000 per month for laundry and recreational purposes. The pocket money was Rp 250,000 for each athlete prior to the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (arf)