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)