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.