Shattered dreams 'beat' boxers

Shattered dreams 'beat' boxers

JAKARTA (JP): Shattered dreams of becoming bureaucrats have
knocked two boxing heroes down so hard they may be unable to
fight at the upcoming PON National Games in Jakarta.

East Timor has pinned its gold-medal hopes on flyweight
Listinho Miguel and light-flyweight Sebastiao da Silva at next
month's national sports gala.

Concern with their condition was voiced by coach Philip
Wattilete when local officials were evaluating their readiness
for the national event.

Wattilete said his boxers lost their fighting spirit when they
found out that they had failed their admission tests for civil
servant posts in the provincial government.

"Until then, they were technically ready and we were sure that
they were fit enough to take the gold in their categories,"
Wattilete said in a meeting led by local police chief Lt. Col.
Silvianus Y. Wenas on Thursday.

Silvianus promised to use his connections with governor Abilio
Jose Osorio Soares to try and "free" Listinho and Sebastiao of
their psychological burden, Antara reported yesterday. (pan)