Wushu team on a high after Cairo

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.