Pertina prepares boxers for Olympics qualification

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) is preparing four boxers to compete in the Asian Championships, which will also serve as the first Olympic qualifying round, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31.

Pertina secretary-general Didiet Soedijoto said on Thursday that the four boxers -- light flyweight La Paene Masara, flyweight Hermansen Ballo, light welterweight Willem Papilaya and welterweight Bara Gomies -- still needed to undergo a physical test at the National Sports Council (KONI) Sports Science Commission (KIO).

"We will decide if they are really ready to compete in the Olympic qualification by staging physical tests and judging their performance based on their coach's evaluation," he said.

Didiet said Pertina was also preparing more boxers to compete in the second qualification in Seoul from Jan. 25 to Feb 1 and the third in Bangkok from June 1 to June 7.

Pertina is aiming to grab more Olympic berths. In the 1996 Olympics, Indonesia earned five tickets from Nemo Bahari, La Paene, Ballo, Hendrik Simangunsong and Pino Bahari, although Pino failed to compete.

"We also hope to win a medal in the Olympics," Didiet said.

Pertina is still searching for a Cuban coach to groom boxers, and will hopefully start training in November. In 1996, its boxers were trained by Cuban coach Isidiro Trotman.

"Cuba is known as a boxing country. In 1996, 17 countries groomed their boxers in Cuba prior to the Olympics. We can only provide a US$1,500 monthly salary for the coach," he said.

Didiet said Pertina must send all boxers qualified for the Olympics for an overseas stint, either in Cuba or Uzbekistan.

"They need regular competition and good sparring partners, which can only be found in those two countries."

Pertina has budgeted more than Rp 1 billion (US$125,000) to prepare its athletes for the Olympics. (yan)