Wiranto new karate chairman

JAKARTA (JP): Lt. Gen. Wiranto, the Army Strategic Reserves Commander, is to chair the Indonesian Karate-do Federation until 2001.

Wiranto, who is currently the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association chairman and the Indonesian Taekwondo Association's vice chairman, was picked to replace Rudini, a former minister of home affairs, on Tuesday in Bogor, West Java.

Another candidate was Lt. Gen. Tarub, the Armed Forces General Affairs' chief, who was backed by 11 karate schools.

Kompas reported that the karate federation and the taekwondo association had fought to have Wiranto as their chairman. But Wiranto picked the karate body after Rudini intervened in the dispute.

The Indonesia Karate-do chairman Eduard Tando said it would be a boost for the sport in Indonesia to have Wiranto leading the federation.

"We believe Wiranto, with all his strength, will bring karate its rightful glory at the SEA Games, as he did with the bridge association.

"We hope the Indonesian karate team will make a clean sweep in the games to mark the start of Wiranto's leadership," he said.

George THE, Karate-do Kyushin Ryu Indonesia's chairman, said the incoming organizers must be able to activate the school council, which controls the referees board.

"The referees board is in a most critical condition. Much dissatisfaction has been shown because referees are often accused of being unfair in fights," George said.

"It happens because the council does not control the board actively. The referees' quality is not improving at the same rate as that of the athletes'," he said. (yan)