Pertina drops two boxers from Asiad

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian amateur boxing association (Pertina) has dropped two pugilists from the team set for the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan in October.

National coach Ferry Moniaga said yesterday welterweight Aswin Cabui and bantamweight Herry Makawimbang were sent back to their respective hometowns of Jayapura, Irian Jaya and Jakarta last week.

"They did not improve as expected," said Ferry, adding that he would be wasting more time and money if he reconsidered his decision.

"It's not worth giving them another chance since we have only few more months before deciding the team's lineup," the former Asian champion, said.

Both Aswin and Herry failed to clear their first hurdles at the World Championship in Bangkok last June. None of Indonesia's nine pugilists managed to win a medal.

There are now seven boxers left at the national training camp at Sasana Wira Dharma boxing camp in South Jakarta: light heavyweight Pino Bahari, middleweight Albert Papilaya, light middleweight Hendrik Simangunsong, lightweight Victor Ramos, featherweight Nemo Bahari, flyweight Rachman Kili-kili and pinweight Hermensen Ballo.

Pertina had earlier planned to form a team of nine for the regional sporting meet, while the national sports governing body Koni insisted on picking seven boxers due to financial constraints. Koni agreed to Pertina's proposal as the boxing body was prepared to pay all expenses for the additional pugilists during their training stint and their stay in Hiroshima.

Ferry hinted, however, that he might throw other boxers on the scrap-heap if they did not perform commendably during the upcoming tournament in Ujungpandang, which will serve as their final proving ground.

Pino and company will be expected to shine at the Golden Gloves boxing championship in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi scheduled for July 23-30. A total of 78 national pugilists have confirmed their entry at the tournament, which was once a prestigious annual meet.

The national team will undergo an overseas stint in Cuba, an amateur boxing powerhouse, for about one and a half months, starting Aug. 5.

Pino gave Indonesia its lone gold medal in boxing competitions in the last Asian Games in Beijing four years ago. Pertina feels that winning three gold medals at Hiroshima's sporting extravaganza is a realistic target. (amd)