Ballo survives qualifying round

Ballo survives qualifying round

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian boxers Bara Gommies and Stevie
Binalay failed to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games after they
lost their second bouts in the Olympic Games third qualifying
round in Bangkok on Monday.

Bara, competing in the welterweight division, was knocked out
by Filipino Calido Reynaldo, while Stevie, fighting as a light
welterweight, lost 5-12 to K. Sanjit of India.

Indonesian assistant team manager Didiet Soedijoto said that
Ballo, a flyweight division competitor, earned a points victory
of 12-2 over Turkmenistan's Shimonov.

Didiet was quoted by Antara as saying that Ballo's chances of
earning an Olympic berth were wide open because only 15 boxers
were fighting in the same weight division as him.

Boxing coach Agus Titaley of Maluku expressed optimism that
Bara could win gold for his province of Maluku in the 15th
National Games (PON) in Surabaya in June. (ivy)