Women weight lifters off to world c'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is sending three women weight lifters to the world championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from Dec. 6 to Dec. 10.

Sri Indriyani, Winarni and Patmatawi were scheduled to leave for Thailand yesterday.

Indriyani will compete in the 46 kilogram division, Winarni in the 50kg and Patmawati in the 59kg.

Budi Santoso, spokesman of the Indonesian Weight Lifting and Powerlifting Association, said Wednesday that the association would only send its best lifters, who are rated among the top five in the world.

"The world championships will also serve to provide our lifters with experiences in world competition. We hope they can be included in the top five in the world," Budi said.

Referring to Hari Setiawan, who was not sent to the championships, Harry Wibowo, the chief commissioner of the weight lifting association, said Hari had shown poor form of late.

"After the 19th SEA Games, almost all of the male lifters experienced a drop in form. We fear that Hari cannot pass our target to be included among the world's 10 best."

Trainer Imron Rosadi said that Indriyani was still struggling with her weight; she is two kilograms more from her ideal weight of 46 kilograms and has only two days to shed the excess.

"However this is no problem for Indriyani because she can reduce her weight before a competition," Imron said.

Winarni and Patmawati have no problems with their weight, Imron added.

As to the world championships, Imron did not want to predict anything. "We have not set a target to the lifters. We only want them to do their best," Imron said.

According to Imron, many countries are seriously developing women's weight lifting, especially as the sport will be contested in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Indonesia grabbed two bronzes in last year's world weight lifting championships. The bronzes came from Bastiah and Ponco Imbarwati in the 46kg and 48kg divisions respectively.

"This year's world championships will be very competitive between the top lifters," Imron said. (lnt)