Mataram to hold boxing tournament

MATARAM (JP): About 50 national boxers from 18 provinces in Indonesia will compete in the 19th National Golden Glove Boxing Championships (STE) here starting today until March 28.

Suwisma, chairman of the Indonesian Boxing Committee (Pertina), said in Mataram on Monday that among the 50 boxers, Jakarta and West Java will send nine boxers each, and West Nusa Tenggara five boxers.

"The championships will serve as a selection of the best boxers to be recruited for the national training which will later be included for the SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam and 2000 Olympics," Suwisma.

The boxers will compete in seven divisions comprising the light welterweight (63.5kg), light middleweight (75kg), light flyweight (45kg), flyweight (48kg), bantamweight (54kg), featherweight (57kg) and lightweight (60kg).

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono is expected to open the championships. (lnt/29)