Weight division change prompts new strategy for RI boxers
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Changes in several weight classes have prompted Pertina, the national amateur boxing body, to revise its strategy for the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.
"We have now to re-identify the would-be opponents of our boxers," Didiet Soedijoto, vice secretary general of Pertina, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
The changes, sanctioned by the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA), took effect as of Jan. 1, 2002. The new ruling brings about a slight increase of weight in almost every category. Only the light flyweight and flyweight divisions remain untouched.
Pinweight, 45 kilograms, has been introduced as a new class while super heavyweight has been eliminated, which means any boxer in that class will now be in the heavyweight division.
As far as Indonesian boxers are concerned, Pertina has been forced to revise its strategy for the Busan trip. "We must once again look into the boxing map. We may face different opponents from the ones we have targeted," Didiet said.
Pertina is currently grooming Stevie Binalay, Bara Gomies, Willem Papilaya, Bonyx Saweho, Fernando Samosir, Benny Tahumesal and Stanley Kalisaran for the Asiad.
Three overseas outings have been planned for them: the Danish Boxing Open in Aarhus, Denmark, in April, the Kings Cup in Bangkok also in April and the Cuban camp in August.
Pertina, though, has yet to decide who will go where. But it is likely that Bara and Bonyx, who are included in the priority boxing list, will be exclusively allowed to go on all three trips to gain vital experience.
The changes have made the dieting program for Stevie more urgent, as he seeks to drop from his current 76-kg class to 67. "It would be tough for him to fight in his old class, because bigger, stronger fighters will give him trouble," Didiet said.
Meanwhile, Stevie could have been joined by Bara and Willem, but the boxing association has decided against administering a dieting program for the two.
"Bara will remain in his 71 kg division and Willem will stay at 63 kg. They have realistic chances in their respective classes," Welhelem Gomies, Bara's father and one of the three national coaches, told a press conference at KONI's office.
Welhelem also expressed his confidence about the physical buildup of his proteges. "They have reached 30 percent at the moment and will improve to 60 percent when the tests are conducted," he said, referring to a pre-training program planned by the National Sports Council (KONI) for the athletes from all sporting disciplines for Busan.
The week-long workout, held before the official start of the training, will run from Jan. 7 at the Jatiluhur reservoir in Purwakarta, West Java, some 100 kilometers east of here.