National boxers miss rigorous Cuban test
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)