Weightlifting coach Harry Wibowo dies

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)