Weightlifter to faces tough SEAG hurdles

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association will face its toughest ever challenge in the Southeast Asian Games here next year.

"Our chances of winning the overall title in weightlifting will be lower compared to the last Games. Thailand will prepare its best lifters to compete against ours," coach Harry Wibowo said yesterday.

"Moreover, Thailand will host the 1997 World Championship and the 1998 Asian Games," he added.

Indonesia grabbed five out of the 10 gold medals in the men's classes and two of nine in the women's classes in the last Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

"Our weakness is in the women's divisions. We don't have enough talented women lifters," he complained.

But Harry is still optimistic that Indonesian lifters will be able to win in the lightweight classes.

The association planned to stage a national training program earlier this month as preparation for the biennial event. But due to its top officials' tight schedules, the program has been delayed. The same amount of medals, 10 golds in the men's division and nine in the women's, are on offer in next year's Games.

Harry said that he will take part in a ten-day coaching clinic in China as part of his efforts to prepare lifters better.

"China won two golds in the Olympics. I think we'd better learn something from that," he said.

Indonesia has a better chance than ever before to take all eight medals in bodybuilding next year, Harry said.

"We have Mr. Asia Ade Ray in the heavyweight class," he said.

Ade Ray, won the seventh Asian Pro-Am Classic Bodybuilding Championships in Macau last July. (yan)