Anton wins 2nd term amid election irregularities

JAKARTA (JP): Anton Sihombing was elected president of the Indonesian Pro-boxing Commission (KTI) for a second successive tenure in an election marred by allegations of ballot manipulation, Antara reported.

Anton will serve for another four-year term until 2005 after winning 72 of 102 eligible votes over his closest rival Tinton Suprapto at the KTI congress in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday.

The convention, which was opened on Wednesday by National Sports Council Chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, was attended by 107 KTI members and 70 boxing observers.

Following Anton's win, many of his adversaries alleged that his side had manipulated the votes as there had been an unusually rapid rise in the number of participants.

Theo Rahail, who represented East Java, said he just did not understand, for example, why Yogyakarta, known as a province with few boxers, had brought a horde of delegates to the congress.

"According to the regulations, the establishment of a boxing commission in a province must meet the requirements of having at least three boxing camps with at least three boxers and a coach each," Theo said.

"As far as I know, Yogyakarta does not have as many boxing camps as outlined in these rules."

He added that West Sumatra appeared to violate the rules too.

"There seem to be some people fooling around with the boxing society for their own interests," he said.

Lodewyk Sitorus, an outgoing KTI executive, has even threatened to file a case with the police.

Tourino Tidar, the chairman of Indonesian Pro-boxing Promoters (Gaprotin) has been urged to keep his promise to refrain from holding any KTI-sanctioned boxing matches if the election is proved to have been manipulated.

Abraham Bisma, from RCTI, the private TV station, which regularly broadcasts pro-boxing bouts, was at the side of those who sought to part from KTI.

"I'm ready to field a boxer from the Indonesian Boxing Association (ATI) and I will prove it on Sept. 18. That will be a promise I have been looking forward to honoring for ATI," he said, referring to KTI's rival ATI. (har/01)