Indonesia vies for two gold in President's Cup boxing event

Indonesia vies for two gold in President's Cup boxing event

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post,Jakarta

Host Indonesia has set a target to win two gold medals in the
President's Cup boxing championship in Batam, Riau islands, next
month.

The championship, after four-year break due to financial
problems, will run from Dec. 9 to 18. Ten countries have already
confirmed their participation with another five expected to
follow.

Indonesia will field 20 boxers from three teams named Rajawali
(10 boxers), Garuda (6) and Elang (4).

Ten weight classes from 45 kg to 81 kg will be in competition
with the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina)
expressing optimism for its boxers in the lower weight classes,
45 kilograms to 54 kilograms.

"We hope to win two gold in the President's Cup for low weight
classes, where we have good fighters," Pertina chairman Nono
Sampono told reporters in a media conference here on Wednesday.

He refused, however, to mention the specific classes or names
of boxers.

There are eight boxers from the home teams in the low classes.
Rajawali team has Pieter Hari and Garuda has Rizal Djuma in the
45 kg class.

In men's 48 kg class, Rionando Butar Butar will represent the
Rajawali team, while the youngest gold medalist in the 2004
National Games, Dastesa Moniaga will fight on the Garuda team.

In the 51 kg class, Indonesia will field Frianta Purba
(Rajawali) and Atris Neolaka (Garuda).

Dadan Amanda (Rajawali) and Daud Yordan (Elang) will represent
Indonesia in the 54 kg class.

The team will head to Batam on Dec. 8.

Meanwhile, Despite Pertina's high expectation for gold, Elang
team coach Johal Amanupunyo said the two gold medals target in
the President's Cup would be difficult for his team to achieve
after the withdrawal of M. Rusli and Bony Saweho.

But he tried not lose hope, saying: "Let's see the chances
from other boxers...."

He was interviewed separately while watching his boxers train
at the Bung Karno Stadium compound.

The 19-year-old Dastesa and 18-year-old Rizal also rated
themselves small chances in the gold hunt.

"It will be hard to win gold with a minimum training session.
We only started training last month. But I will do my best
because now we are the hosts," Dastesa said.

Dastesa said he was keen to redeem himself after disappointing
performances in Azerbaijan, Philippines and India.

For Rizal, the President's Cup will be his first international
appearance.