Huge boxing arena built in Bekasi for Jakarta athletes
Huge boxing arena built in Bekasi for Jakarta athletes
BEKASI, West Java (JP): A new indoor boxing arena has been
built in Bekasi, West Java, and is set to become the center of
boxing excellence in greater Jakarta.
Manager of the arena Tourino Tidar said yesterday that he
plans to stage bouts twice a week in order to realize his dreams
of producing the country's boxing cream.
Erected on a 5,000-square-meter plot, the boxing arena, called
Atres, can accommodate 1,500 people. "It will be the biggest in
Jakarta and its three neighboring towns of Bogor, Tangerang and
Bekasi," said Tourino, who is also a noted promoter.
The arena will provide an international-standard boxing gym
for both professional and amateur boxers. Tourino said he would
groom his talents here and for this reason has resigned from his
former camp Arseto.
"We have to go back to basics if we want a big return. Arseto
has already grown up and no longer needs my input so much," he
said.
Learning from overseas boxing camps, Tourino said that he
would hire a foreign coach for his prodigies. "Without demeaning
local coaches, I believe that foreigners have more rigid training
programs," he explained.
"I have a dream of producing one or two champions in either
the World Boxing Council or World Boxing Association," he said.
Indonesia once had two world champions, Elly Pical and Nico
Thomas, in the less prestigious division the International Boxing
Federation and now boasts one champion, Suwito Lagola, in the
unheralded World Boxing Federation.
The Atres will be part of a new recreational park, Restika,
currently being built by PT Reka Pastika Asri. The park, the only
one in this town of two-million-people, is expected to be
inaugurated on Aug. 17 next year shortly after the first phase of
the project is completed.
Occupying an eight-hectare site formerly used as a scout
camping area, the park will cost the company Rp 12 billion
(US$5.4 million). Among the facilities are an American-designed
master blaster, a wave pool and a children's pool.
Haryanti Katoppo, president director of Reka Pastika Asri,
said that the Rp 500-million boxing arena will help her company
promote the park.
On days without boxing, the arena will be turned into a stage
for various performances, ranging from music to other cultural
shows.
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman is
scheduled to inaugurate the boxing arena tomorrow. The national
featherweight championship will follow the opening ceremony.
(amd)