Yayuk Basuki to compete at 19th SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council is relieved that it will probably win two gold medals in tennis at the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here in October because Indonesia's top tennis player Yayuk Basuki will compete in the biennial event.

The council's secretary-general, Rudolph S. Warouw, said yesterday Yayuk would compete in the Games from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

"We all know Yayuk's quality and nationalism. She will still compete on the WTA tour to get into the top 20 and will also play at the SEA Games," he said.

Yayuk, who is ranked 22 in the world, leaves for the U.S. tomorrow to prepare for next month's US Open in New York.

Yayuk went to the council yesterday with coach and husband Suharyadi to meet council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar.

Indonesia will rely on Yayuk at the Games, while Thailand will look to world top 50 player Tamarine Tanasugarn.

At the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Yayuk failed to win the women's singles gold, losing to Tamarine in the final.

Indonesia won three golds, one silver and six bronzes in 1995, while Thailand won seven golds, three silvers and five bronzes.

Rudolph denied media reports that Yayuk was having problems with the Indonesian Tennis Association after husband Suharyadi was not left out of Indonesia's Fed Cup team two weeks ago.

"I don't see it as a problem. It's merely miscommunication due to the distance when she was touring in Europe," he said.

Yayuk refused to play the July 12 and July 13 match against Italy after the association decided to use clay courts, which she does not play well on. Indonesia lost to Italy 0-5.

Suharyadi had sent a letter to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) asking for the tie not to be played on clay.

The association's chairman, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, said he could not except Yayuk's reason for not playing because all of Indonesia's best players started their careers in the ITF tournaments on clay.

Rudolph said Suharyadi said he was only suggesting the association reconsider the court choice, but was not questioning the decision.

"We're glad that Yayuk really wants to play in the Games without being asked by Wismoyo," he said.

Gymnastics

Indonesian gymnast Novi Kartianasari has returned home from a stint with the Dinamo Club in Moscow because of illness. She was preparing for the SEA games.

The 15-year-old Novi collapsed June 20 early in the morning before her routine exercise. She was hospitalized for a week before returning home.

"I felt dizzy the night before I collapsed. After I regained consciousness my neck hurt," she said.

Novi, who had to stop training for a month, will start practicing again today.

"A month's rest means I have to start my training over again. I could never compete against my friends in Moscow. I think I can't even beat those who train here," said Novi who has to wear a neck brace.

Gymnastics training director Frederick M. Huma said Novi was still undergoing medical check ups at Kebayoran Hospital.

"I still can't say what her illness is because the check ups have not yet been completed," he said.

Novi, who aims to win the gold on the balance beam. At the last Games she won a bronze in the team's event. (yan)