RI to select boxers for Cuban training

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association will send four of 10 boxers currently in training for the 13th Asian Games to Cuba, based on their form in the Pattimura Cup championships in Ambon, Maluku, from Aug. 18 to Aug. 23.

The association's secretary-general, Didit Soedijoto, told reporters Friday the athletes would stay in Cuba from Sept. 14 to Nov. 22. The Games will be held in Bangkok in December.

"They will meet their future rivals there. Some Asiad participating countries, including host Thailand, are also sending their boxers to Cuba," he said.

The association is targeting one gold from four events, but Didit declined to name the best medal prospect.

Didit said the association was grooming Damianus Jordan and La Paene Masara (48kg), Hermansen Ballo (51kg), Martin Sihombing and Dufri Masihor (54kg), Wilpare Jamhur (60kg), Bara Gomies and Willem Papilaya (67kg) and Albert Papilaya and Syarif Hidayat (75kg). They are coached by Cuban Julio Lee Hechevera.

Damianus and Bara won two golds in the Far Eastern Asian Games in December 1997 and two bronzes in the Kings Cup in Bangkok in April. Hermansen and Bara won two golds in the Agong Cup in Malaysia.

Didit said Thailand expected to collect six golds from Suban Panon (48kg), Pramuansak Posuwan (51kg), Sontaya Wongprated (54kg), Somluck Kamsing (57kg), Pongsit Wiengviset (60kg) and Parkpoom Jangpanas (67kg).

"Thai boxers will stay in Cuba for two months under the supervision of coach Juan Fontanils. They consider our boxers as underdogs and I hope it will give us an advantage. They are only aware of boxers from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the Philippines," he said. (yan)