体坛英语新闻：Test events for 18th Asian Games to be held in host city Jakarta

JAKARTA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Athletes from 15 nations and regions will compete in the test events this month for the 18th Asian Games in the host city Jakarta, and the home athletes are targeting to win the titles in Pencak Silat (Indonesian martial art) tournaments.

The test events of Pencak Silat are scheduled to be held from February 10 to 15 in Padepokan Taman Mini Indonesia Indah of Jakarta, according to the head coach of Indonesian Pencak Silat team Rony Syaifullah. And he said that his team are eyeing the gold medals in the upcoming competitions.

Joining the home athelets in the events of traditional Indonesian martial art are competitors from Japan, Philippines, India, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Singapore, Laos and Brunei, according to Syaifullah.

"Although Vietnam will not take part in this test event, the country remains our strong opponent," Syaifullah added.

Weightlifting competitions, which featured lifters from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Singapore, are to be held on February 11 and 12 in Jakarta International Expo.

"We will use this test events to measure the capability and capacity of our lifters compared with opponents from other Asian member nations," manager of Indonesian team Dirja Wihardja said.

The 18th Asian Games are scheduled to be held from August 18 to September 2 this year in Indonesia's capital and provincial capital of South Sumatra, Palembang.