Indonesian boxers gear up for Olympics
Indonesian boxers gear up for Olympics
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Olympic Boxing team will undergo
a physical fitness test at the National Sports Council this
morning before heading to Uzbekistan and Cuba for more advanced
training.
Indonesian Boxing Association secretary-general Didiet
Soedijoto told The Jakarta Post that physical fitness was the
emphasis of the team's home training, which started on March 16.
The five-man team, which trains at the Army Special Force's
training center in Cijantung, East Jakarta, underwent a military
fitness test called samapta on March. 19. The military test
requires the boxers to undergo a 12-minute run, the distance
covered indicating their fitness level. A fit man should cover
3.2 km in 12 minutes.
Didiet declined to reveal the test results yesterday.
If they pass this morning's test, team members will travel to
Uzbekistan on Apr. 17. The team is made up of top boxers La Paene
Masara (48kg), Hermensen Ballo (51kg), Hendrik Simangunsong
(71kg), Nemo Bahari (57kg) and Pino Bahari (75kg).
The team will face European sparing partners in Uzbekistan.
Some Uzbekistan coaches will work to refine the Indonesian's
boxing skills.
Didiet said the team will also compete in several amateur
boxing tournaments in Uzbekistan to familiarize the fighters with
the European way of boxing. The team will leave Uzbekistan for
Cuba on May 23.
In Cuba, the boxers will be get more advanced training on
techniques and tactics until July 10. Didiet said the team will
take part in an international boxing tournament called Cordoba-
Cadin in Camaway, about 22 kilometers from Cuba's capital of
Havana. The competition is expected to familiarize the team with
the American style of boxing.
After maturing in Cuba, the team will fly directly to Atlanta
for the Olympics Games between July 19 and Aug. 4, 1996.
Chief of the Army's Special Force, Brig. Gen. Prabowo
Subianto, has promised to give a house to any boxer who brings
home an Olympic medal.
The Olympic boxing competition, featuring 12 weight classes
with 32 boxers in each class, will use the old fight format of
three rounds of three minutes each, instead of the new format of
five rounds of two minutes each. (arf)