Pertina seeks Cuban coach

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) will hire a foreign coach to prepare national boxers for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Pertina chairman Sang Nyoman Suwisma said on Thursday evening that he told his staff to focus on hiring a Cuban coach.

Pertina has prepared four boxers -- Willem Papilaya, Hermansen Ballo, La Paene Masara and Bara Gomies -- to join the long-term training program to compete in the Asian Boxing Championships, which also serves as part of the Olympics prequalifying round, in Tashkent from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31.

Antara reported the four boxers were in intensified training at the Ragunan Sports School in South Jakarta, under the supervision of coach Ferry Moniaga. (yan)