Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, May 29 (Antara) - Two rowers from the Southeast Sulawesi province were selected to join the national team for the Asia Dragon Boat Championship in China from May 28 to June 5.
National coach Herman Harun said on the telephone from China on Thursday the two rowers are Dedi Kusumayadi and Sofianto, who are both senior high school students.
"Their selection to strengthen the national team for the Asia Dragon Boat Championship is both a pride and a challenge," Herman added.
Dedi Kusumayadi and Sofianto are the children of fishermen from the coastal village of Bontu Bontu, which is a tiny island in the district of Muna.
It is a pride because they have been selected from among millions of other youths in the country, and it is also a challenge as they also have to prove their capacity, he noted.
The Indonesian team has gone to China with 24 male and 14 female rowers led by Marine Brigadier General Yong Mardinal and Veradika Kafolari as an assistant coach.
The event serves as a strategic arena for the Indonesian team, which is currently undergoing a central national training program before the Asian Games.
"The Asia championship is predicted to be attended by world-class rowers and so can serve as an evaluation arena for the national athletes that will take part in the Asian Games," Herman said.
Although Indonesia has not set a target of winning any medal, Indonesian rowers are optimistic they can win a gold medal, he remarked.
"We cannot confirm how many gold, silver or bronze medals we can win, but we are optimistic we can defeat other teams," he said.
Reporting by Sarjono
