Pertina hopes RI boxers will qualify to Olympics

Pertina hopes RI boxers will qualify to Olympics

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Boxing Association (Pertina)
deputy secretary-general, Didiet Soedijoto, said on Friday that
national boxers would be able to qualify for the 2000 Olympics at
a qualification match in Seoul from Dec. 17 to Jan. 25.

Didiet said Pertina was optimistic that its boxers would
qualify for the Olympics after coaches Ferry Moniaga and Frans VB
stated after a meeting with chairman Sang Nyoman Suwisma that
many strong boxers qualified for the Olympics in a pre-Olympics
qualifying round in Tashkent earlier this month.

Didiet expects five boxers to qualify as they will have less
powerful rivals in the qualification in Seoul.

Antara said the five boxers are flyweight boxers Dede Chandra
and Wardoyo, lightweight boxer Marwan Muling, light welterweight
Steve Binalay and light middleweight Willem Papilaya.

Didiet said Marwan originally competed in the featherweight
division but since he had to fight against Wilpare Jamhur,
Pertina decided to move him to the lightweight division. The same
situation happened with Steve Binalay, who used to fight in the
welterweight, and had to lose weight to compete in the light
welterweight division.

Only Wardoyo is a newcomer to the team. He joined the team
after winning the national championships in Jayapura, Irian Jaya,
last month. Pertina considers him to have a good future.

Didiet said Pertina would start its centralized training
program in December. The association will also hire a Cuban
coach, who is expected to arrive here next month.

Pertina will also stage an overseas stint for its boxers
before competing in the last pre-Olympics qualification in
Bangkok from June 1 to June 7. (yan)