Official wants revival of SEA Games spirit

Official wants revival of SEA Games spirit

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia should push for a fair-play campaign
instead of an overall title triumph at the 1997 Southeast Asian
Games, a boxing official says.

Imron ZS, executive director of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing
Association, said yesterday that Indonesia should use its role as
host of the 1997 Games to remind participants of the event's
original purpose.

"If we decide to pursue the overall title as the ultimate
objective during the upcoming Games, we will easily fall prey to
sportsmanship violations," Imron said.

"Our main job is to guarantee that visiting teams are
satisfied with our services."

Imron was commenting on Indonesia's defeat and his team's
failure to win any gold medals at the 18th SEA Games in Chiang
Mai, Thailand, two weeks ago.

He said that sportsmanship violations marred Thailand's
surprising gold medal haul in the boxing finals. All 11 Thais who
reached the boxing finals won top honors, leaving the remaining
single gold to the Philippines. Five Indonesians and seven
Filipinos also advanced to the finals.

SEA Games boxing was more balanced at the two previous
occasions. In 1991 in Manila, the Philippines earned six golds,
Thailand four and Indonesia two. Two years ago, the Philippines
and Thailand collected five golds each and Indonesia two.

Imron said he was concerned about the situation in Chiang Mai.
"If Indonesia is willing to justify all means to regain the
overall title, the Games will mean nothing but a battle front,"
he said.

"It's time to return to the main idea of the Games: that is,
friendship among Southeast Asian countries," he added.

Imron told Indonesian journalists following middleweight Pino
Bahari's loss to his Thai opponent in Chiang Mai that he would
suggest that Indonesian boxers not participate in at least two
tournaments hosted by Thailand, to protest what he called unfair
conduct.

Imron, who is also vice president of the Association of
International Boxing Amateurs, said that he had formally asked
the association's president Anwar Chowdry to take the problem
more seriously.

"I realize that a protest by the Indonesian contingent protest
won't do any good but at least we have to show our dislike of
their stand," he said.

Imron said the Philippine team asked Indonesia to walk out of
the final. "But we refused this idea," he said. "If we wanted to
walk out of the Games we should have done it earlier."

Imron said he would insist on persuading Indonesian boxers not
to ever participate in an event hosted by Thailand unless the
country can guarantee fair competition.

Meanwhile, the national boxing body will start its 1996
program by sending six boxers to the Mayor's Cup championship in
Cebu, Philippines next month. The six boxers are Pino Bahari,
Arthur Rambing, Hendrik Simangunsong, Lapaene Masara, Sonny
Rambing and Herman Sembako.

The pugilists are being trained by Sutan Rambing and Johnny
Riberu, along with assistant coach Johnny Wane from North
Sulawesi. (05)