Women step into the boxing ring<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Rumiris Simarmata works up a sweat with some shadow boxing --
\njabs, hooks, straights and uppercuts -- in an alcove of Bung
\nKarno Stadium.<\/p>\n
Her next target is a punching bag against a wall, the young
\nwoman dodging and darting as she hones her technique.<\/p>\n
She is enthusiastic and intently serious throughout her
\ntraining, an attitude befitting one of the pioneers in women's
\nboxing here.<\/p>\n
Rumiris is one of five women who began training with nine male
\nboxers in Senayan, Central Jakarta, in February for the 23rd
\nSoutheast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila in November.<\/p>\n
Although women's boxing has "arrived" in the United States,
\nwhere Laila Ali is fast becoming a household name for her boxing
\nprowess instead of as the daughter of the "Greatest", and other
\nparts of Asia, it's a novelty here.<\/p>\n
It was only last year that the National Amateur Boxing
\nAssociation (Pertina) launched its search for women boxers to
\ncompete in Manila, where women's boxing will make its SEA Games
\ndebut as a medal sport.<\/p>\n
"We instructed our chapters to prepare women's boxers last
\nyear when we were notified that Manila had included women's
\nboxing on the list of sports in medal competition," Soewardi, a
\nPertina official, said.<\/p>\n
The five women, all with some experience in contact sports,
\ncame through three qualifying tournaments and a national
\nchampionship in Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
"Enthusiasm was high. The national championship had 70
\nentrants from 17 (of 32) provinces. Those five trainees proved
\ntheir skills by winning their respective classes," Soewardi said.<\/p>\n
Riris, a 25-year-old sports science graduate who teaches at a
\njunior high school in a small town near Medan, is an all-rounder,
\nwith experience in wushu, karate, softball and field hockey.<\/p>\n
She never reached the top nationally in any of them, making
\nthe field hockey training camp in 2001 but missing out on final
\nselection.<\/p>\n
The advent of women's boxing provided another opportunity for
\nher to compete for her country.<\/p>\n
"As Pertina was looking for women boxers, I switched to boxing
\nwith the hope that I could win a place on the national team,"
\nsaid Riris, who competes in the 48 kg class and has taken a one-
\nyear leave from her job.<\/p>\n
Veronika Nicolas, at 18 the youngest team member, is a former
\ntae kwon do fighter. She won a silver in a local tournament in
\nNorth Sulawesi in 2001.<\/p>\n
The flyweight pugilist, who has "212" tattooed on her forehead
\nin honor of folklore hero Wiro Sableng, said she turned to boxing
\nin the hope of getting more chances to compete. "I competed only
\nonce in six months when I was still involved in tae kwon do."<\/p>\n
Although the youngest of seven children said her parents and
\nsiblings supported her boxing, others have confronted entrenched
\nattitudes against women taking up a "man's" sport.<\/p>\n
Riris' brother was not pleased by her decision. "He said it
\nwas not worth it for women to box," she said.<\/p>\n
Former national champion Syamsul Anwar Harahap is also
\nuncomfortable with seeing women in the ring.<\/p>\n
"Personally, I am against women's boxing. It's simply that
\nboxing is a men's sport. But many people don't object to the
\nsport, well ... I have to give in," said Syamsul, now a boxing
\ncommentator and columnist.<\/p>\n
Tommy Halauwet, a ring doctor for professional boxing bouts,
\nis more concerned about health risks because the women are new to
\nthe sport.<\/p>\n
They also will face more experienced boxers in Manila.<\/p>\n
"Women have slower reflexes than men. They are more prone to
\ninjury," Tommy believes. "I know Thailand and Philippines began
\nwomen's boxing five years ago. Some of their boxers are Asian
\nchampions."<\/p>\n
Despite his concerns, some observers argue that in gender-
\nbased differences in sports, men may have greater upper body
\nstrength and faster reflexes, but women have more accurate
\nresponses.<\/p>\n
Coach Sudarmadi brushed aside the concerns about female
\nfighters, pointing to his team's sporting backgrounds.<\/p>\n
"They are already used to contact sports from competing in
\nkarate, pencak silat and tae kwon do in the past.<\/p>\n
"They've already got good technique. Now we are working on
\ntheir speed."<\/p>\n
The women train six hours daily under Sudarmadi and Nurlena.
\nThey are scheduled to take part in the Asian Championships in
\nChinese Taipei in August, with the boxing association considering
\nanother possible competition before the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
Sudarmadi is realistic about the women's chances, saying any
\nmedal would be a bonus in squaring off against boxers from
\nregional powerhouses Thailand and the host nation.<\/p>\n
"I know it will be tough there," Riris said of Manila. "But we
\nare determined to give our best effort."<\/p>\n
Asked if she ever worried about the risk of injury when she
\nstepped into the ring, Veronika said: "I have no fear whatsoever.
\nIf I did, I should just put my feet up in bed."<\/p>\n
Women boxers for SEA Games:<\/p>\n
- Jein Gereta (46kg)<\/p>\n
- Rumiris Simarmata (48kg)<\/p>\n
- Veronika Nicolas (50kg)<\/p>\n
- Elisawati (54kg)<\/p>\n
- Agnes Datu Sulang (60kg)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/women-step-into-the-boxing-ring-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }