National boxers miss rigorous Cuban test
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian boxers currently training in Cuba have missed the opportunity to test their skills against local pugilists.
The Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association's (Pertina) deputy secretary general, Didit Soedijoto, told a weekly media briefing on Thursday that the fights would not take place, after the Cuban boxing body postponed the national championships until September.
"Unfortunately, no other international event will take place in Cuba for the rest of August," Didit said.
Pertina had arranged for Indonesian boxers to participate in Cuba's national championships in Matanza during their stint in the Caribbean country, dubbed the world's strongest amateur boxing powerhouse.
Pertina sent Bonix Saweho (45kg flyweight), David Isikiwar (60kg lightweight), Joko Suryono (72kg light middleweight), and Hendrik Simangunsong (75kg middleweight) to Cuba ahead of the South East Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur next month.
To compensate for the canceled fights with Cuban boxers, Indonesian coaches have arranged a four-nation trial with boxers from Switzerland, Algeria and El Salvador, who, like the Indonesians, are training at a boxing camp in Costa Azul, Didi said.
"There are five boxers from Switzerland, 18 from Algeria and 11 from El Salvador," he added.
The second batch of Indonesian boxers, Wellem Papilaya (63.5kg light welterweight) and his elder brother Albert Papilaya (81kg light heavyweight), will leave on Saturday for Cuba.
Beside the overseas trainees, Pertina is grooming Karel Moskanan (48kg light flyweight), Melky Lelemboto (51kg flyweight), Dufri Masikar (54kg bantamweight) and Agustinus Romroman (57kg featherweight) for the SEA Games. They are undergoing a training program in Selabintana, near Sukabumi in West Java.
Meanwhile, the Bowling Association (PBI) has named 12 bowlers in the Kuala Lumpur-bound team, setting the target of bringing home two gold medals.
"PBI expects the gold medals from the men's events. There are also hopes from the individual event," PBI chairman Subagio told the weekly meeting.
In a separate development, the Indonesian Karate-do Federation (Forki) finally reinstated Rahfisal Tanjung and Christine Dewi Gani to the SEA Games team after they managed to reduce their weights.
Isfan will compete in the men's 55kg class and Christine Dewi Gani in the women's 60kg class.
"They must watch their weight closely from now on. If they fail to do so, we will not field them," Forki's official Ahmad Budu said.
Forki aims to grab seven gold medals out of the 19 events. (nvn)