Pino trains at home for SEA Games

Pino trains at home for SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Boxing Association has agreed to
let Pino Bahari train in his hometown of Denpasar, Bali, instead
of with the centralized training program in Pasar Minggu, South
Jakarta.

The association's chairman, Poul Toding, said he would not
interfere with Pino's training program.

"My and the association's interest is only to see him win the
gold medal at the SEA Games," he said.

Pino, who fights in the 75 kgs class, won the 1990 Asian Games
in Beijing, China. But he slipped to silver in the 1995 SEA Games
in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Pino has written to the association to state his intention of
retiring to go professional.

But the National Sports Council's chairman, Wismoyo
Arismunandar, has urged Pino to attend centralized training.

Daniel Bahari, Pino's father and coach, said yesterday that
Pino had promised to train and win a gold medal at the Games. He
asked the council to let him coach Pino in Denpasar.

"There are two reasons. One, we have a sinshei (Chinese
medicine man) who can cure Pino's back injury. Second, Pino will
become a pro boxer. I'm afraid if we let him practice with
amateur boxers, his performance will get worse," he said.

Pino failed to compete at the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta,
Georgia, because of his back injury.

He preferred to train in Denpasar because he was still
undergoing physiotherapy.

"Based on my experience, my injury will get worse if I'm being
trained in Jakarta," he said.

Pino said he had sacrificed enough for the country. He wanted
to finish his studies at a hotel academy in Nusa Dua, Bali, which
he had abandoned for five years.

He wants to turn pro to earn more money because he only
receives an allowance during the national training program as an
amateur.

Poul said that Pino would not box in some selection
tournaments.

The association plans to send boxers to Teheran for a
tournament from Feb. 14 to Feb. 21. Another six boxers are
expected to compete at the Young Men's Christian Association
competition and three more at the Adajania Cup junior boxing
championship. Both tournaments will be held in New Delhi from
March 5 to March 11.

Indonesian boxers have also been invited to take part in the
King's Cup in Bangkok from April 5 to April 11.

The national squad is expected to train in Cuba in August and
September before the SEA Games here in October.

Poul said Pino would box in the President Cup, which is
scheduled for Bogor, West Java, in July.

Promoter Tourino Tidar said that Wismoyo would allow Pino to
turn pro after he joined the national squad for the Games.

Tourino plans to contract Pino for Rp 100 million (US$41,700)
for five matches on the condition that Pino joins the national
squad for the Games.

Pino is expected to have his first pro fight early next year.

"If something happens to his injury after the Games, I'll
discuss it then with Pino and Daniel," Tourino said.

He said he did not mind if Pino wanted to train in Denpasar.

"Technical problems are not my business," he said.

Wismoyo is scheduled to witness Tourino hand over a Rp 15
million down payment to Pino today. (yan)