Boxing body to hire promoter for SEAG
Boxing body to hire promoter for SEAG
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association plans
to hire a promotion expert to attract more people to watch boxing
matches in the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here next year.
The association's Secretary-general Didit Soedijoto said on
Monday that he will contact Helmy Sungkar, who has been known as
a good promoter for automotive sports, to start promoting boxing.
"Helmy is recommended by Soebronto Laras as a good promoter,"
Didit said. Subronto is the director of Indomobil company.
"Helmy has agreed to promote last year's President's Cup
championships but his tight schedule in automotive made him
cancel the plan," he said.
Didit referred to the last National Games, which lacked of
audiences. The SEA Games organizing committee is working hard on
thinking the right promotion so many people will come and watch.
"In the last President's Cup, there was an indication that the
number of spectators was decreasing," he said.
Didit promised that the SEA Games' boxing matches will be a
valuable distraction for boxing lovers.
"We have Olympics champion from Thailand and silver medalist
from the Philippines. It's a guarantee that the match will be the
best," he said.
However, the association is still facing problems with the
venue. The organizers want boxing to be staged at the 2,000-seat
Kuningan Sports Hall on Jl. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, but the
association wants the sport to be staged at the 3,500-seat
Senayan Tennis Indoor Stadium.
"Kuningan is more strategic because the hall is located near
the shopping center and the transportation is easier compared to
Senayan," he said.
"But we have to put air conditioners in the hall because it's
so hot," he added.
The National Sports Council urged the association to win four
golds in the next SEA Games. Indonesia only managed five silvers
and three bronzes in the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Thirty boxers have undergone centralized training program at
the Army's Special Force headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta.
Cuban coach Isidoro Trotman is coaching them and will be assisted
by another Cuban. (yan)