W

hile expecting more participants, host Indonesia is hoping for better performances from its athletes at the upcoming WKF Karate1 Premier League series in an aim to improve its world ranking.

'We are targeting a top three spot in Asia, 10th in the world and the best in Southeast Asia,' Hendardji Soepandji, president of the Indonesian Karate-do Federation (FORKI), told reporters on Wednesday.

Karate1 Premier League, a World Karate Federation (WKF)-sanctioned prime league event, was first held in 2011. According to the WKF website, Indonesia is currently ranked 66th in the world ranking, which is dominated by European countries.

France tops the rankings, followed by Turkey and Italy. In Asia, Indonesia is ranked below Japan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea and fellow regional countries Malaysia and Vietnam.

The two-day event, scheduled for June 22 -23 at Istora Hall inside the Senayan sports complex, will be Indonesia's second time hosting.

'We expect some 50 of 180 country members at the event. Twenty-eight have confirmed their participation but others can confirm up until four days before the event,' Hendardji said. Last year's event saw participation from 32 countries.

He appealed to the media for promotional support.

'We are hoping for media support to help spread awareness so the sport can continue to excel,' he said.

Indonesia has registered to host the event next year, which according Hendardji shows its commitment to making it an annual event held in Indonesia.

The Jakarta event follows the Premier League's series in Paris (France), Dordrecht (Netherlands) and Tyumen (Russia). The other three series in the league will be hosted in Istanbul (Turkey), Hanau (Germany) and Salzburg (Austria).

Up to 500 athletes are expected to participate in the event, which features 14 classes and is offering ¤19,800 (some Rp 300 million) in prizes.

According to competition chairman Iwan Setiawan, grand winners in their respective classes will be
rewarded with cash bonuses.

 'This event is a good opportunity for our athletes to compete against world opponents,' he said.

The winners of the recent KASAD Cup and national athletes make up Indonesia's 40-strong team. This upcoming event is the athletes' last chance to be included on the national team for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar in December.

'We will recruit between 23 and 25 athletes for the games,' Hendardji said, adding that tryouts in Europe and Japan had been planned as part of the team's preparations for the Games.

The karate competition at the Games will feature 17 classes.