Weightlifting coach Harry Wibowo dies

JAKARTA (JP): The nation's weightlifting circle mourned yesterday the death of coach Harry Wibowo, an old hand who helped put Indonesia on the world map of the sport.

Harry was found lying unconscious in the bathroom of his house in Ciledug, Tangerang, West Java, on Tuesday by his brother. The 41-year-old coach was rushed to the hospital but doctors could not save his life.

As of yesterday, the cause of Harry's death was unknown, but his brother said Harry had seemed fatigued of late.

Harry is survived by his wife Julien Lasut and two children, Joey, 5, and Jeremia, 3.

His body has been laid out at his other house on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta. His family plan to bury him at the Christian cemetery in Joglo, West Jakarta, tomorrow, pending the arrival of relatives from Manado, North Sulawesi.

The general affairs officer of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI), Budi Santoso, said yesterday Harry's death came as a shock.

"He (Harry) just called me Tuesday morning to tell me about an award presentation to Sri Indriyani (a top woman lifter) at the State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Office," Budi said of his last conversation with Harry.

Harry did not attend the ceremony because he had to receive National Sports Council executives who visited the Ragunan sports training center to watch national lifters train for the 13th Asian Games.

Budi paid tribute to Harry for devoting his life to the development of the sport in the country.

"He sacrificed most of his life for this sport," Budi was quoted by Antara as saying.

Budi also praised Harry as a hard learner. He said the former top national lifter in 1970s did his best as an assistant to Bulgarian coach Nedelcho Kolev in preparing Indonesian lifters for the 19th Southeast Asian Games here in October last year.

Under his tutelage, Indonesia's female lifters won two gold medals in a record-breaking feat in the world championships in Chiang Mai two months later.

Budi said Harry had been nominated to groom young talents for international events.

The weightlifting body has named Sori Enda Nasution to take Harry's place in the national Asian Games team. Sori is also a former top national lifter. (lnt)