Indonesia to field soccer team in Doha after long absence

JAKARTA, Nov 3 (Reuters) Indonesia will send an under-23 side to Doha to compete in the Asian Games' soccer competition for the first time in 16 years.

The move comes after Indonesia was prodded to send a soccer team to Doha by the secretary-general of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Peter Velappan.

''We have agreed to send the national team. I hope the polemic will end here,'' Agum Gumelar, chairman of the Indonesian sports committee, was today quoted by the state news agency Antara.

Indonesia has not sent a soccer squad for four consecutive Asian Games, with some officials feeling it was a waste of money because they do not stand a good chance of winning a medal.

The under-23 team are currently holding a training camp in the Netherlands.

The secretary general of the Indonesian Football Association, Nugraha Besoes, welcomed the decision.

Indonesia will co-host the 2007 Asian Cup with Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand from July 7-29.

REUTERS PM HT1507