Weight lifters to hold centralized training

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Weight lifting, Power lifting and Bodybuilding Association is due to stage a centralized training program next month in preparation for the 19th Southeast Asian Games here next year.

Association secretary-general Djoko Pramono said yesterday that the organization has to start the program on Dec. 1 because of financial problems. Other sports started similar training programs on Nov. 1.

"We haven't received the training fund from the National Sports Council and so haven't called athletes for the program," Djoko said.

"The funding decision will be made tomorrow," he added.

The association has selected 48 athletes, mostly winners at the last National Games, for the program in the Puncak mountain resort, West Java. Olympian Hari Setiawan and Junior World Champion Sri Indriyani are among those due to attend.

Djoko said that the association had initially planned to stage a decentralized program until March.

"It's not that we doubt our coaches' quality but we want to see an improvement at the Games," he said.

A Bulgarian coach, Nedelcho Kolev, has been hired by the association to prepare 24 lifters, to be selected from the 48 called up by the association, for the Games. The association is aiming for a clean sweep of the 19 golds on offer.

"That's our goal. Every country, especially Thailand, also intends to win all the golds. It's a tough challenge for us to meet," Djoko said.

Indonesia won seven gold, seven silver and three bronze medals at the last Games, while Thailand grabbed 10 golds, six silvers and one bronze.

"We didn't have a foreign coach for the last Games but this time we want our coaches to learn lessons," he said.

The association is counting on Kolev, former World Champion in 1973-1994, to improve Indonesian athletes' performances. Kolev, who coached the Bulgarian national team three times, is currently training Indian lifters and used to coach in Turkey.

"If the foreign coach can bring victory to our squad then we'll probably contract him for the Asian Games," he said.

Djoko said that the association is still considering a centralized training program for bodybuilders.

"We are looking for a fitness center which is willing to accommodate our athletes," he said.

Indonesia's backbone Ade Ray, the 7th Asian Pro-Am Classic Bodybuilding Championships winner, is likely to participate in the Games although previously the association decided not to feature the 90 kilograms and above category in the Games.

"We are trying to feature the 80 kgs and above class in the Games so Ade Ray would be able to compete," he said. (yan)