Pino may not fight in President's Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Light-heavyweight boxer Pino Bahari has said he will not fight in the President's Cup amateur championships, which will be the final selection for the 19th SEA Games team.

SEA Games training director Djoko Pramono said yesterday Pino did not want to compete in the championships because he felt abandoned by the Indonesian Boxing Association for not being sent abroad for overseas training.

"Pino was never in the 19th SEA Games training squad. I don't know how he could receive a monthly allowance from the National Sports Council," he said.

Pino declined to join the centralized training program here last year. He wanted his father and coach Daniel Bahari to train him in Bali instead.

The 1990 Asian Games gold medalist submitted a retirement letter to the association early this year but decided a month later to prepare for the Games.

Other boxers have competed in various international events, including one in Teheran in February.

Promoter Tourino Tidar has threatened to stop the Rp 100 million (US$41,500) contract with Pino if the boxer refuses to compete in the President Cup and join the SEA Games squad.

Pino had received a Rp 15 million down payment from Tourino.

Djoko refused to comment on whether Pino could join the Games squad if he refused to fight in the President's Cup.

Djoko also told reporters that the Indonesian Soccer Association has been ignoring the women's national team.

"Until now the soccer training director has yet to decide where the women's team will have an overseas tryout," he said.

Djoko said he would also discuss the men's national team, who lost 3-0 to Uzbekhistan last month.

"The association sent all the players to their clubs. We had agreed that the association would not change the squad. But how can we believe them as they have changed the coach?" Djoko said with a laugh. (yan)