RI names 3 boxers for Fajr tournament

RI names 3 boxers for Fajr tournament

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Boxing Association has named
three national boxers to compete in next week's Fajr
International Boxing Tournament in Teheran, Iran, as part of
their lead up to the 19th SEA Games.

The association's secretary-general, Didiet Soedijoto, said
Thursday that Hermansen Balo (flyweight), Herry Makawimbang
(bantamweight) and Bara Gomies (welterweight) would fight in the
tournament, from Feb. 14 to Feb. 21.

Didiet said the three boxers were not expected to win the
tournament but "learn from an international tournament after
three months of grooming".

"The reason for sending them is to give them more experience
in international tournaments to boost their competitive spirit,"
he said.

The association plans to send other boxers to international
tournaments, including the Young-Men's Christian Association
event in New Delhi, Pakistan, from March 5 to March 11, the
King's Cup in Bangkok from April 5 to April 11 and the Arafura
Games in Darwin, Australia, also in April.

Didiet said the national training center had been moved
yesterday from Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, to the Marine Command
headquarters in Cilandak, South Jakarta.

Twenty-one national boxers and four juniors are being groomed
at the new training center.

The marine headquarters was selected as a training center to
increase athlete discipline. The coaches will only be responsible
for the technique and physical condition of boxers.

"So far, the coaches have had to deal with every problem.
After we evaluated it, we found that the boxers lacked training
discipline. We'll ask the marines to train them for discipline,"
Didiet said.

Antara reported that the association had dropped 10 boxers
from its squad. They failed to qualify for the Games last week.

Three more athletes are expected to join the national squad.
They are Otong Kosasih (middleweight), Syarif Hidayat
(middleweight) and Dedi Mikaso (lightmiddleweight).

"We have 22 boxers, including these three and Pino Bahari, and
we'll select them down to only 11 athletes at the Presidents Cup
championship in July," Didiet said.

Pino, the 1990 Asian Games gold medalist, is being trained by
his father and coach Daniel Bahari in his hometown Denpasar,
Bali, because of his injury and ambition to turn professional.
(yan)