Boxing coach Wiem wary of bias in Bacolod City
Boxing coach Wiem wary of bias in Bacolod City
Musthofid
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Although national boxing coach Wiem Gomies feels he has done
all he can to get his charges ready for November's Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games, there is one crucial factor beyond his
control.
Apart from the luck of the draw, Wiem said much depended on
judges' decisions in winning medals in the Philippines. While he
does not expect biased judging against Indonesian boxers in bouts
with Thais, the regional powerhouse in the sport, it will be a
different matter in taking on the hosts.
"As the hosts, the Philippines are putting their nation's
pride on the line. It will be a difficult task against the
hosts," Wiem said last week.
"After being thrashed by Thailand in Vietnam (SEA Games 2003),
the Philippines vowed to bounce back and Thailand returned home
empty handed from Olympic qualifying in Manila in 2004. The
Philippines dominated the event."
Allegations of biased judging in favor of a host country's
boxers have marred previous Games; the stunning losses of five
Indonesian boxers to Thai opponents in the 1995 SEA Games in
Chiang Mai remain a bitter memory.
Wiem said the boxers would be at peak performance in November.
"The boxers have reached between 80 and 90 percent of their
preparedness for the fights. They should be well positioned for
the fights in time."
The Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association is preparing nine
men and five women for Bacolod City, one of four venues selected
for the biennial regional sporting event from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.
The hosts, along with Vietnam and Thailand, are also expected
to be the strongest contenders in women's boxing, which is making
its Games debut.
"What remains to be worked out is polishing the boxers'
tactics and strategy," Wiem said.
Even with his fears about judging, national boxers have not
been convincing in the runup to the Games. With the exception of
Arenaldo Moniaga, who won bronze in the featherweight (57 kg)
division, all national boxers were defeated early in the Asian
Championships in August.
At the 2003 Games in Vietnam, national boxers won only one
gold, contributed by Benny Elopere, who is not on this year's
squad.
Rionando Butar-Butar, a silver medalist in 2003, said he was
in good shape despite a first-round loss in the Asian
Championships.
"I'm ready for the bouts. I'll try hard to give my best
effort. I'm ready to follow what the trainer tells me during the
fight. I have learned a lot of tactics and strategy during the
training. And I guess I'm well equipped for the ring," said the
light flyweight (48 kg).
"Seen from the recent Asian Championship, it (competitiveness)
will be the same as in the last SEA Games."
He will face some tough opponents, including Filipino Harry
Tanamor, the SEA Games and Asian champion, and Thai Subhan
Panonh, who was the Asian championship runner-up.
With the odds stacked against him, he remains hopeful of
pulling off a surprise. "I believe in God," he said.
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National boxers
Men: Alberto Alfons (45kg), Rionando Butar-Butar (48kg), Destesa
Moniaga (51), Dadan Amanda (54kg), Arenaldo Moniaga (57kg),
Miftah Rifai Lubis (60kg), Robby Chandra (64kg), Toar Sompotan
(69kg), Bara Gomies (75kg)
Women: Jein Gereta (46kg), Rumiris Simarmata (48kg), Veronika
Nicolas (50kg), Elisawati (54kg), Agnes Datu Sulang (60kg)