Wismoyo alerts tae kwon doins to be tougher at Asian Games
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Wismoyo Arismunandar, the chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI), has warned veteran tae kwon doins against allowing their medal aspirations to wear them down psychologically during the upcoming Asian Games.
The Asian Games are scheduled to take place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14 in Busan, South Korea.
He called such athletes "cowards". He said he could understand if the more inexperienced athletes allowed the pressure to affect their performances, but not the veterans.
"It is funny that the more experienced athletes can suffer mental pressure. But if they do, I would call them cowards," he said when receiving the Asian Championships tae kwon do team in his office here on Thursday.
Adrian Lumowa, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Tae Kwon Do Association, escorted the team to their meeting with Wismoyo prior to their departure to Jordan next week, where they will take part in the Asian Championships from April 27 to April 29.
Wismoyo, a retired Army general, is well known among the national sporting community, including journalists covering KONI, for his colorful statements.
Being considered by many as responsible for the highs and lows of national sports development, Wismoyo is anxious about the performance of Indonesian athletes in international tournaments.
At times, the KONI chairman asks more from athletes than they themselves think they can deliver. During some of his face-to- face meetings, he will ask -- if not demand -- about the athletes' readiness to win medals.
On occasion, he has looked irritated with athletes who take a humble attitude about their medal chances.
The meeting on Thursday was no exception. Wismoyo did not look pleased when Dasantyo Pribadi, one of the tae kwon do coaches, said that veteran athletes, being more experienced, had to endure more pressure because they were expected to win medals.
"How come? They should be fired up instead," Wismoyo said. Dasantyo was then criticized for what Wismoyo said was a less than optimistic approach.
Satrio Rahardani, one of the eight athletes bound for Jordan, agreed with his coach, saying: "I have to admit I feel somewhat nervous when I am told I have to win a medal. I'd prefer if they said, 'Do the best you can.' Then I would feel relaxed."
Satrio recently joined the training camp here after training in South Korea for three years. The other Indonesians traveling to Jordan are Derry Darmansyah, Basuki Nugroho and Rosandy in the men's division, and Juana Wangsa Putri, Emeralda Margareth, Onyas Nurmala and Ika Dian Fitri in the women's division.
Adrian said the Asian Championships was an important event for the athletes, not only to scout their potential opponents in the Asian Games but also to gauge their own strengths.