Indonesian Tennis Association Targets Gold Medals In Asian Games

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Indonesia has been targeting gold medals from tennis in the upcoming Asian Games, to be held in Incheon, South Korea, in October 2014, Maman Wirjawan said here on Wednesday.

"The target is quite realistic, considering the achievement of the Indonesian tennis player Christopher Rungkat at the Davis Cup in Asia-Oceania Zone Group II," Maman, a manager of the central board of Indonesian Tennis Association, noted.

He stated that the achievement was a momentum for Indonesian athletes to prepare for the 2014 Asian Games and bag more medals in the event.

Maman revealed that the institution had established a program to deal with the multibranch competition in Asia.

"The preparation for the Asian Games are still underway, including the three-month training in Spain, besides participation in a number of tournaments in Europe," he pointed out.

He expressed hope that the Indonesian tennis team, comprising Christopher Rungkat, Aditya Hari Sasongko, and other players, will be able to show their best performance.

"We are still considering the opposing countries such as Japan and India," Maman said.

According to him, the Nusa Dua Bali Open 2014 in Bali is a good championship event for the regeneration of the athletes. Therefore, it should be continually held.

"The athlete`s potentials must be nurtured from an early age and could not be achieved within a short span," Maman noted, saying that the potential of the national athletes will be revealed within five to ten years.

"Of course, support must be provided from all sides, so that the championship could be sustainably held," Maman added. (WDY)