Four advance to semifinals

Fadli The Jakarta Post/Batam

Four Indonesian boxers advanced to the semifinals in the 20th President's Cup here on Monday.

Light-flyweight hopeful Destesa Moniaga defeated Imran Hafeeq of Pakistan 19-13, while Dadan Amanda brushed aside MDK Wanniarachchi of Sri Lanka 24-15 in the featherweight match.

Another Indonesian featherweight fighter, Daud Yordan, totally dominated Nguyen Kien Cuong of Vietnam to take his match 22-6.

Meanwhile, welterweight contender Mifta Rivai Lubis scored a 20-10 victory over Vietnamese fighter Du Duc Thanh.

However, the Indonesians will face a tough task ahead with South Korean boxers their next opponents.

Destesa will take on Hong Moo-won, while Dadan and Mifta are up against Seo Dong-sik and Ha Jung-kwen, respectively and Daud will try to tackle Murat Airmassov of Kazakhstan.

The only Indonesian boxer who couldn't do the job was Rionando Butar Butar.

Despite the full support from a home crowd at the Tumenggung Jamal Sports Hall, Rionando, Indonesia's silver medalist at the 2003 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, crashed out to Godfrey Castro of the Philippines 28-20.

Other boxers through to the semifinals were Japanese fighters Toshiyoki Igarashi and Satoshi Osono; and Ayatullah of Pakistan.

Indonesian team manager and boxing commentator Syamsul Anwar Harahap said the Indonesian boxers showed less boxing quality today than their forerunners.

"In the past, they rose to boxing stage because they wanted to make it their pastime. Their talent helped make them strong boxers. Today's boxers seem to lack motivation," Syamsul said.

Indonesia has five boxers in Tuesday's matches who will take another shot at the semifinals.

They are Erico Amanupunyo, David Isikawar, Darman Hutahuruk, Atris Neolaka and Toar Sompotan.