Sunday, June 6, 2010

KONI accepts Cricket

After working hard in recent years to promote the sport, Cricket Indonesia got the recognition it deserved when it was granted membership of the National Sports Committee on Friday.

Its inclusion on the committee, also known as KONI, is part of a long-term goal for Indonesian cricket, which will be played as an exhibition event in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games to be held here.

“Though cricket is quite new in our country, Cricket Indonesia has been doing a great job in teaching the intricacies of the sport to the young. Promoting cricket in the region by way of the SEA Games will be good for the game,” said KONI chairwoman Rita Subowo after she met with an International Cricket Council delegation in Jakarta on Friday.

International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the body was excited about the new developments.

“The progress has been very encouraging because Indonesia has been playing competitive cricket for the last 10 years,” Lorgat said.

Cricket Indonesia was recognized as the Best Junior Cricket Initiative at the ICC East Asia-Pacific Development Program Annual Awards for three straight years from 2007 to 2009.

KONI is scheduled to meet with members of the SEA Games Council in September, part of Indonesia’s preparations for hosting the 2011 Games. Rita said the ICC has been invited to join the meeting.

“It will be the perfect time for the ICC to promote the sport, because we are expecting delegations from all 11 Southeast Asian countries to attend the meeting,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Globe Under-17 National Championships will culminate in Cibubur, East Jakarta, over the weekend, capping off the tournament with the grand final on Saturday.

Thirteen regional teams and two clubs from Singapore are vying for the championship.

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