RI boxers eying 6 SEA Games golds
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)