Pino almost certain to skip Olympic Games
Pino almost certain to skip Olympic Games
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's middleweight boxer, Pino Bahari, is
almost certain to miss the Atlanta Olympic Games in July due to a
worsening spinal injury.
"The injury has prevented Pino from undergoing the training
program, which in turn reduces his aerobic and anaerobic
abilities," Suhantoro, chief of the National Sports Council's
laboratory, said.
Suhantoro told reporters yesterday that the latest fitness
tests, conducted last week on Indonesia's Atlanta-bound boxing
team, revealed a setback on Pino's form, compared to the previous
tests conducted on April 10.
Pino's fate will be officially announced by the sports
council's chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, following his meeting
today with the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association.
Pino, gold medalist in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, was
diagnosed as suffering spondilolisis lumbar 5 spondal 1 last
month. Doctors recommended that he take an eight-week break.
Suhantoro will conduct a final check-up on Pino on June 8 to
determine whether the 25-year-old boxer has recovered or not.
Subardi Soear, director of the national training project,
refused to comment yesterday on Suhantoro's finding, but made it
clear that letting Pino fight in Atlanta would adversely affect
his career in the future.
"I know that Pino is mentally ready to fight. We just don't
want him to suffer more if he goes to Olympics," Subardi said.
The sports council will continue giving Pino medical
treatment, according to Subardi. "If he has not yet recovered by
June 8, we will use physiotherapy," he said.
Other boxers, comprising featherweight Nemo Bahari, light
flyweight La Paene Masara, flyweight boxer Hermansen Ballo and
light middleweight boxer Hendrik Simangunsong, will fly to Cuba
on May 19 for an overseas stint. They will also take part in two
Olympic warm-up tournaments there.
Cuban coach Isidoro Trotman, national coach Daniel Bahari and
the boxing body's secretary-general, Didiet Sedijoto, will
accompany them in the outing.
Suhantoro said that he was satisfied with the test results of
the remaining four boxers.
"In brief, I can say that their fitness is perfect and they
are all ready to fight. We expect them to improve their form," he
said. Hendrik was the only boxer to score a perfect mark during
the tests.
While the four boxers are undergoing a training stint at the
Army's special force base camp in Cijantung, East Jakarta, Pino
remains at the Century Park Hotel undergoing medical treatment.
He has to use a back brace and drink Chinese medicine made of
turtle extract. (yan)