RI boxers eying 6 SEA Games golds
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has launched a strong bid to restore its pride in the SEA Games boxing competitions by setting a target of winning six gold medals at the 19th holding of the biennial event here next year.
Secretary-General of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association, Didit Sudijoto, said yesterday that the goal is realistic mainly due to the advantage of competing at home and the organization's well-planned preparations.
"Our failure in the SEA Games last year was because of, among other things, the lack of preparation of both our boxers and coaches," Didit said. "It is an uphill task but we promise to strive hard to achieve it."
The Indonesian Sports Council had previously estimated a more realistic tally of four golds, two silvers and two bronzes at next year's Games.
Boxing will maintain the 12 conventional weight divisions next year.
The 1997 SEA Games is the third on Indonesian soil. The first was in 1979 and the second in 1987.
Next year's event will run from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19., during a school holiday.
Indonesian boxers won five finals berths in the 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but none were converted into gold medals. An angry Indonesian official accused the organizers of unfair judging, but the complaint received no response from the jubilant host which celebrated a record clean sweep in all 12 finals.
It was Indonesia's worst result since its SEA Games debut in 1977. The country had been on the decline in the previous three meets. It brought home a modest medal collection of two golds, a silver and five bronzes in the 1993 meet in Singapore.
Didit said that the association's 33 boxers are attending a training camp under the tutelage of 10 coaches led by Cuban Isidoro Trotman. The program started on Oct. 15, two weeks earlier than the schedule set by the sports council.
Indonesian Olympians, light flyweight Lapaene Masara, flyweight Hermensen Ballo, light middleweight Hendrik Simangunsong and middleweight Albert Papilaya, are the biggest names at the camp. Favorite Bahari brothers of Pino and Nemo refused the calls, saying that they will hang up their gloves.
The association has extended its contract with Trotman, who has been coaching here for two years.
Didit said that the trainees will work out at two centers, in Ragunan, South Jakarta and Bogor, West Java. "It's just an attempt to prevent the boxers from getting bored," he said.
A series of tryouts in Cuba, the Philippines, Pakistan and Australia have been drawn up for the boxers during the 11-month training program.
The association will also provide monthly incentives for both the trainees and coaches. Each boxer will receive Rp 300,000 (US$135), while coach will get twice that amount. (amd)