La Paene, Ballo to go to Cuba for training
La Paene, Ballo to go to Cuba for training
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association
(Pertina) will send two boxers who have qualified for the Olympic
Games to Cuba early next month.
Pertina deputy secretary-general Didiet Soedijoto said on
Tuesday the boxers, light flyweight La Paene Masara and flyweight
Hermensen Ballo, would be accompanied by Indonesian coach Frans
Bebe and Cuban coach Carlos Penate Torres.
"In today's meeting, chaired by deputy executive director
Ignatius Mulyono, Pak Frans suggested Pertina allow Carlos to
accompany him during the stay in Cuba.
"Our original plan was not to include Torres on the team
(traveling to Cuba) because he is in charge of our junior
development. But Pak Frans wants him to join the team because
they wouldn't feel comfortable being accompanied by strangers,"
Didiet said.
Didiet said by sending La Paene and Ballo to Cuba for
training, Pertina hoped its boxers would reach the semifinals of
the Olympics, a hope also expressed by National Sports Council
chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar.
"At the 1996 Olympics, La Paene managed to reach the
quarterfinals while Ballo only got into the top 16. Hopefully
this year they can reach the semifinals," Didiet said.
Both boxers qualified for the Sydney Olympics, to be held in
September, during the third qualifying round in Bangkok early
this month. The two are scheduled to compete in the Pedro Soto
Alba and the Cordoba Cardin tournaments in July during their stay
in Cuba.
Didiet said the decision to send Torres, a sports science
expert in boxing, to Cuba along with the boxers would be
confirmed by Pertina chairman Sang Nyoman Suwisma on Tuesday
evening.
Didiet said Torres would set the training program for the
association's junior boxers, and his assistants Ronny Sigaraki
and Albert Papilaya would implement the program in his absence.
Pertina will send three additional boxers -- Stevie Binalay
(light welterweight), Dede Chandra (flyweight) and Roland Latuni
(light flyweight) -- to Cuba in early July to further their
progress.
Pertina has also sent four veteran boxers -- Marwan Muling
(lightweight), Willem Papilaya (light welterweight), Damianus
Jordan (light flyweight) and Bara Gomies (welterweight) -- and
two young boxers -- Irwan (heavyweight) and Wardoyo (flyweight)
-- back to their home provinces.
"The four veterans were returned to prepare for the 15th
National Games in Surabaya in June. Irwan failed to show much
progress and Wardoyo is still recovering from a head injury,"
Didiet said. (yan)