Low expectations for RI boxers in SEA Games<\/p>\n
By Primastuti Handayani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National boxers are keeping a tight rein on
\ntheir hopes for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei
\nDarussalam next month, aiming for only three of the 11 golds at
\nstake.<\/p>\n
The head coach, Ferry Moniaga, said last week that it could be
\nhard to win even three golds, compared to six golds in the 1997
\nSEA Games, due to a lack of tryouts.<\/p>\n
Three golds could possibly be won by La Paene Masara in the
\nlight flyweight, Hermansen Ballo in flyweight and old hand Albert
\nPapilaya in the light heavyweight.<\/p>\n
\"We are lacking comparable sparring partners and tryouts. Some
\nboxers competed in the Arafura Games in April and the national
\nchampionships in Tanjungpura, South Kalimantan. But that's not
\nenough,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To overcome the hurdle, the Indonesian Amateur Boxing
\nAssociation (Pertina) will stage a duel meet with 21 boxers from
\nWest Java and Jakarta on July 22 and July 23.<\/p>\n
\"If any boxer is injured in the duel meet, it's our risk and
\nwe won't have to worry about their performance in Brunei because
\nfrom 11 boxers we only hope to win three golds,\" he said
\npessimistically.<\/p>\n
\"Each boxer will face a rival from the upper division,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
However, Pertina is still facing sponsorship problems to stage
\nthe event.<\/p>\n
Compared to Indonesia's preparation two years ago, Pertina
\nseems to lack confidence and the seriousness to show off its
\nforce this year.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, Pertina sent its boxers for a three-month
\noverseas stint in Cuba, where Thai boxers were also groomed.<\/p>\n
National boxers stayed at the marine camp in Cilandak, South
\nJakarta, and received military discipline exercises. Pertina also
\nhired two Cuban coaches: Isidoro Trotman and Julio Lee
\nHechavarria.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe we'll go to Cuba for preparations to the Olympics
\nqualifying round in Tashkent in October, in Seoul in February
\n2000 and in Bangkok in June 2000,\" Ferry said.<\/p>\n
Budget<\/p>\n
This year, Pertina can only name the lack of funds as the
\nreason for not sending boxers abroad for overseas stints.
\nNational boxers are staying at the Ragunan Sports School with
\nother athletes.<\/p>\n
But during The Jakarta Post's visit last week, the boxers did
\nnot seem serious in training. They trained at the edge of a
\nsoccer field and sometimes watched the soccer match, at which
\ntimes their coach had to shout and yell to get their attention.<\/p>\n
Ferry only said: \"They needed a break because maybe they are
\nbored with staying here for a long time. The boxing hall is under
\nrenovation today, that's why they are practicing outside,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
National boxers only have two days a week, Wednesdays and
\nSaturdays, to fight with professional boxers to maintain their
\ncompetitive spirit.<\/p>\n
\"It is not enough. That's why I want to stage the duel meet,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Luckily, Pertina got support from the Indonesian Embassy in
\nThailand which sent copies of matches in the King's Cup.<\/p>\n
\"Usually we send our athletes to the King's Cup but this year
\nThailand did not invite any Southeast Asian boxers. Maybe they
\ndon't want their preparations watched by other countries.\"<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the videos were rarely watched due to
\n\"technical problems\".<\/p>\n
\"The TV in our room can't be connected to a video player. We
\nhave to use the bigger TV in the common room. But we can't do
\nthat every time because many people use the room,\" Ferry said.<\/p>\n
The former boxer named Thai and Filipino boxers as Indonesia's
\ntough challengers in the biennial event from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.<\/p>\n
Can Indonesian boxers win three golds in the SEA Games?<\/p>\n
\"We'll see because it also depends on the drawing,\" Ferry said
\nhopelessly.<\/p>\n
Boxing team members: Moch. Rusli (finweight), La Paene Masara
\n(light flyweight), Hermansen Ballo (flyweight), Anthonius Johni
\n(bantamweight), Thomas Kaliambor (featherweight), Wilpare Jamhur
\n(lightweight), Welem Papilaya (light welterweight), Bara Gomies
\n(welterweight), Joko Suryono (light middleweight), Syarif Hidayat
\n(middleweight) and Albert Papilaya (light heavyweight).<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/low-expectations-for-ri-boxers-in-sea-games-1447893297",
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