Indonesia's sepaktakraw team has to clear its first hurdle this Saturday
in its encounter with South Korea at the Al-Sadd Sports Indoor Hall in Doha if
it wants to collect a medal.
"We have won (against South Korea ) in our two previous meets. That's why we have a bigger chance of grabbing the medal," team
manager Harjanto Sofian was quoted Thursday by The Jakarta Post newspaper as
saying.
"However, we don't want to underestimate them. Our players haveto play their
best and remain alert," he added.
With only six countries participating in the sport -- Thailand,Malaysia,
South Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia, a team onlyneeds one win in a
round-robin competitions to advance to the semifinals.
Indonesia is in the same group as South Korea and red-hot favorite Thailand.
Indonesia's 12-strong sepaktakraw team arrived Tuesday evening in Doha along
with the bowling team.
One of the athletes Yudi Purnomo said he and his teammates were upbeat about
their chances of reaching the final.
"We will put up our best fight and hopefully we could save the bout in the
final," he said.
The National Sports Council (KONI) has set a semifinal target for the
national squad.
Thailand's coach Somkiet Sungstitanon boasted that his team was too powerful
for Indonesia .
"It's not because I'm from Thailand, but it's a fact. Thai team skills are
still well above other teams in the region," he said.
