Wismoyo accepts SEA Games report
Wismoyo accepts SEA Games report
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) Wismoyo Arismunandar has formally accepted the report on Indonesia's performance at the just concluded 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from chef de mission Arie Sudewo.
"The chairman understood very well and approved of the accountability reports which contain the national athletes' accomplishments in the Games and evaluation reports made after the Games," council spokesman Ishadi said on Friday.
Wismoyo said he would hand in the report to President Soeharto before KONI's annual meeting here on Jan. 15 and 16.
Arie and officials from 26 sports organizations met on Friday to evaluate the outcome of the Games, where Indonesia finished a distant second behind host Thailand.
Indonesia, eight-time overall winner, took only 77 gold medals, 67 silvers and 77 bronzes compared to Thailand's 157 golds, 98 silvers and 91 bronzes.
The meeting concluded that a lack of fighting spirit, short- term preparations and inadequate information about the progress of Thai athletes cost Indonesia its overall title at the Games.
Former State Minister of Youth and Sports R. Maladi, KONI former secretary-general MF Siregar and senior sports journalist Sumohadi Marsis were among the observers at the meeting.
Maladi suggested that KONI make up its mind about sports development. "The concept of sports, competition format and the number of warm-up matches are more important than the centralized training program," he said.
Siregar said Thailand had been preparing its athletes since 1990 under a strong sports concept. "They set their sights not only on winning the SEA Games, but on reaching the top of the Asian Games and the Olympic Games," Siregar said.
Sumohadi criticized Indonesia's national coaches for being over confident about their trainees. "They did not realize how strong their rivals were. They thought their Indonesian athletes could easily beat their opponents," Sumohadi said. (05)