T

he Indonesian wushu and karate teams aim to improve their gold medal tally from the last Southeast Asian Games while the boxers look to end a gold drought in Laos.

After managing to steal the show at the World Wushu Championships in Canada in October, Wushu Indonesia is confident its female wushu athletes will be able to maintain their form and improve the country's gold medal collection at the next SEA Games in Laos.

"Our two gold medal hopes rest with our female taolu athletes, Lindswell and Susyana *Tjhan*," team manager Ngatino said Wednesday.

Indonesia picked up one gold medal at the SEA Games in Thailand two years ago courtesy of men's taijiquan specialist Freddy, but the squad could only add a silver and four bronze to the tally.

This year the 18-strong team is heading to Laos with more confidence after their Toronto trip where 18-year-old Lindswell earned them a gold medal in the women's taijiquan event.

Women's changquan specialist Susyana, who won bronze in Thailand, finished third in Toronto.

Meanwhile, the karate team is looking to increase their gold count from two in Thailand to three.

The 17 karatekas have undergone six weeks of intensive training under the supervision of Japanese coach Yasuhisa Inada.

"The fighters have improved their speed, variations, tactics and spirit," team manager Djafar Djantang said.

Gold is expected in the men's 84- and 60-kilogram divisions, the women's kata team and the men's and women's kumite teams.

A total of 19 karate gold medals are on offer at the Games.

The nine-member boxing team are looking to end the gold drought in the last two SEA Games by targeting three gold medals.

Indonesian boxers could only bring home a bronze in Thailand and a silver in the Philippines.

Indonesia last won gold in 2003 in Vietnam, through Benny Elopere.