Wushu team on a high after Cairo

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian wushu team is brimming with confidence ahead of the 2002 Asian Games after an impressive run in Cairo, according to training director E.F. Hamidi.

"The lads' fighting spirit has been improving, especially that of Dwi (Arimbi)," Hamidi said after meeting with officials of the National Sports Council here on Monday.

The 10 athletes on the Indonesian team won 13 gold, five silver and three bronze medals, making it the overall champion at the inaugural Afro-Asian Championships in Cairo, Egypt. The event took place from July 9 to July 12.

One of the golds came in the women's Tajijian, courtesy of Dwi, whose performance, according to Hamidi, was beyond expectations.

China, its potential Asian Games rival, and host Egypt finished in second and third place respectively at the tournament, which featured athletes from 13 Asian and African countries.

While China's participation in the Afro-Asian event gave the Indonesian athletes a chance to gauge their progress, Hamidi deplored the absence of Korea and Vietnam, two other countries that look to give Indonesia strong competition at Busan, South Korea, the site of 2002 Asian Games.

The Indonesian Wushu Association plans to send a team to another event in Hong Kong in August, which will be its last overseas outing before Busan.