RI to select boxers for Cuban training

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)