More boxers wanted for SEA Games

More boxers wanted for SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The national amateur boxing association
(Pertina) plans to recruit more pugilists for the 18th Southeast
Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in December.

Chairman of the association, Paul Toding, said during a cash
rewards presentation officiated by National Sports Council chief
Wismoyo Arismunandar yesterday that he wanted to have as many
options as possible in forming the national boxing team.

"We will conduct a strict selection process for those who will
don the national colors in Chiang Mai. We want to pick the best
ones since winning gold medals is our main target," Paul said.

Only 12 places are open on the national SEA Games boxing team.
"We should at least have three choices of names in each
division," Paul said. The SEA Games will feature 12 boxing
classes, ranging from pinweight to heavyweight.

Pertina has groomed 26 boxers for the last three months, but
is considering dropping three of them from the centralized
training stint.

Welterweight Darmansyah and Johnson Hutagaol will be axed due
to their poor performances during training. Flyweight Henky
Wuwungan will be sidelined for his injury.

National coach Ferry Moniaga said that he would restart his
scouting program in a local tournament here next week.

"We hope to find local talents who are eligible for our team's
line-up," said Ferry, a former national boxer champion.

Pertina executive chairman, Imron ZS, told Wismoyo that
boxing's governing body does not want to take the risk of
delaying the centralized training program.

"We have to admit that boxers from Thailand and the
Philippines, as always, are better than ours. Our trainees still
need more time to get ready for the Games," Imron said.

Indonesian pugilists brought home a modest medal collection of
two golds, one silver and five bronzes in the 17th SEA Games in
Singapore two years ago. The Philippines and Thailand shared
supremacy in the ring with five golds each.

Wismoyo handed over Pertina's cash rewards yesterday to the
six Indonesian boxers who shined in three international
tournaments in Karachi, New Delhi and Chiang Mai.

Flyweight Hermensen Ballo topped the earnings list with Rp 2.5
million (US$1,127) for the gold he won in the King's Cup in
Chiang Mai and his silver in Karachi.

Gold medalists received Rp 1.5 million ($676), silver medal
winners Rp 1 million ($451) and each bronze medalist Rp 500,000
($225). Each of the four coaches was also awarded Rp 500,000.

Wismoyo, who appeared uneasy in his role during the ceremony,
spontaneously took a fistful of bucks out of his pocket, saying:
"Don't count this money. This is only a token to show how proud I
am of you," Wismoyo said. (amd)