Pertina gears up for 2001 SEA Games

Pertina gears up for 2001 SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): In its preparation for the 2001 Southeast Asian
(SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, the Indonesian Amateur Boxing
Association (Pertina) is grooming 10 boxers to compete in three
separate championships during the year-end.

"It's a part of our preparation for the SEA Games in the short
term. In a longer term, we are aiming for the Pusan 2002 Asian
Games and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games," Pertina's deputy
secretary general, Didit Soedijoto, told reporters at his office
Wednesday.

"The boxers will fight in the Agong's Cup in Kuala Lumpur,
Taipei Cup in Kaohsiung, and junior championship in Budapest," he
added.

Pertina is preparing finweight Bonix Sawiko, light flyweight
Rolland Latumi, flyweight Dede Chandra, bantamweight Afriadin and
light welterweight Stevi Binalay (63.5 kg) for the Malaysia's
tournament from Nov. 10 to Nov. 18.

In Kaohsiung from Dec. 1 to Dec. 7, Bonix and Rolland will be
accompanied by flyweight Karel Moskana, bantamweight Juan
Saparipan and Bara Gomies light welterweight 63.5 kg.

For the Budapest junior tournament from Nov. 4 to Nov. 13,
Pertina will only send two boxers. Melky Lelemboto will fight
either in the light flyweight or flyweight and Doddy Syah Bahari
in light welterweight.

Didit said Bonix and Rolland were send to more tournaments
regarding on their better chances to go through early rounds.

"We're closely monitoring all boxers. We'll evaluate them
before sending them abroad. If they show no progress, we can
reduce the number of boxers to be sent."

Meanwhile, head coach Ferry Moniaga revealed Pertina would
soon call 40 boxers to enter the national training camp to start
their preparation.

"The names are already in my pocket but I can't give it to you
now because it's not official yet," he told reporters.

"There are 28 boxers to be prepared for SEA Games and 12 other
junior boxers to be prepared for longer term targets."

Indonesia would field its boxers in all class in the SEA Games
except the super heavyweight division.

Ferry said Pertina would hold a centralized national training
camp instead of a decentralized one.

"There will be about 12 boxers from all over the country with
only about four coaches. It's impossible to hold a decentralized
training camp," he said.

"We'll also involve John Amanoponyo from South Sulawesi and
Max Wuwungan from North Sulawesi in our coach lineup," added
Ferry.

Currently, the coaches are lead by Cuban coach Carlos Penate
Torres, who will still coach the national squad until 2004. (nvn)