Pertina wants three tickets for Asiad trip

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After getting the go ahead for Bara Gomies, the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) is looking forward to securing a total of three places at the 2002 Asian Games.

Pertina is currently grooming three boxers in Cuba, but only Bonyx Saweho is officially among the tentative list of athletes for the Asian Games, which will be held in Busan, South Korea, in October.

The other two boxers, Bara Gomies and Melky Lelemboto, are not on the list. The three are under the guidance of Cuban trainer Carlos J. Penate Torre.

Bara had actually been on the list prior to his removal. And he is now likely to return according to Bambang Asmanu, Pertina's secretary-general, who said they had got the green light over the welterweight fighter.

"The National Sports Council (KONI) has given us the green light for Bara," Bambang told reporters.

However, it seems that Pertina will seek more slots for its Busan trip. "We have three boxers training in Cuba. Why shouldn't we go to Busan with all three?" Bambang said.

"We have spent a lot of money training them, haven't we? We will try to discuss the matter with KONI," he said.

About the Cuban workout, Bambang said Melky sustained a minor injury during a training session, but said he would be all right soon.

"Bara and Bonyx are in prime condition and will hopefully reach their peak in October," he said, quoting Dr. William Setiawan, who accompanied the boxers.

As part of their training program, the boxers are scheduled to take part in an international junior boxing championship in Santiago, Cuba, on Sept. 13.

Pertina also unveiled a long-term program with the recruitment of nine junior boxers, which will be followed by another 11.

The nine boxers include Arenaldo Moniaga, 54 kilograms, Dastesa Moniaga, 48kg, Rio Butar Butar, 48kg, Daud Jordan, 51kg, Robby Chandra, 54kg, Densius Marfilous, 45kg, Rico Amanupunyo, 57kg, Patrick Timbowo, 51kg, and Ricky Karepoan, 54kg.

Pertina had initially planned for them to join their teammates in Cuba in September but this was delayed until January. "We would only have had a short period of training if we were to proceed with the previous schedule," Bambang said.

The other 11 of Pertina's trainee candidates will not join the training center until they finish competing at two local tournaments: the Sidoarjo Open in East Java and the Udayana Open in Bali in October.