Women step into the boxing ring

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Rumiris Simarmata works up a sweat with some shadow boxing -- jabs, hooks, straights and uppercuts -- in an alcove of Bung Karno Stadium.

Her next target is a punching bag against a wall, the young woman dodging and darting as she hones her technique.

She is enthusiastic and intently serious throughout her training, an attitude befitting one of the pioneers in women's boxing here.

Rumiris is one of five women who began training with nine male boxers in Senayan, Central Jakarta, in February for the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila in November.

Although women's boxing has "arrived" in the United States, where Laila Ali is fast becoming a household name for her boxing prowess instead of as the daughter of the "Greatest", and other parts of Asia, it's a novelty here.

It was only last year that the National Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) launched its search for women boxers to compete in Manila, where women's boxing will make its SEA Games debut as a medal sport.

"We instructed our chapters to prepare women's boxers last year when we were notified that Manila had included women's boxing on the list of sports in medal competition," Soewardi, a Pertina official, said.

The five women, all with some experience in contact sports, came through three qualifying tournaments and a national championship in Medan, North Sumatra.

"Enthusiasm was high. The national championship had 70 entrants from 17 (of 32) provinces. Those five trainees proved their skills by winning their respective classes," Soewardi said.

Riris, a 25-year-old sports science graduate who teaches at a junior high school in a small town near Medan, is an all-rounder, with experience in wushu, karate, softball and field hockey.

She never reached the top nationally in any of them, making the field hockey training camp in 2001 but missing out on final selection.

The advent of women's boxing provided another opportunity for her to compete for her country.

"As Pertina was looking for women boxers, I switched to boxing with the hope that I could win a place on the national team," said Riris, who competes in the 48 kg class and has taken a one- year leave from her job.

Veronika Nicolas, at 18 the youngest team member, is a former tae kwon do fighter. She won a silver in a local tournament in North Sulawesi in 2001.

The flyweight pugilist, who has "212" tattooed on her forehead in honor of folklore hero Wiro Sableng, said she turned to boxing in the hope of getting more chances to compete. "I competed only once in six months when I was still involved in tae kwon do."

Although the youngest of seven children said her parents and siblings supported her boxing, others have confronted entrenched attitudes against women taking up a "man's" sport.

Riris' brother was not pleased by her decision. "He said it was not worth it for women to box," she said.

Former national champion Syamsul Anwar Harahap is also uncomfortable with seeing women in the ring.

"Personally, I am against women's boxing. It's simply that boxing is a men's sport. But many people don't object to the sport, well ... I have to give in," said Syamsul, now a boxing commentator and columnist.

Tommy Halauwet, a ring doctor for professional boxing bouts, is more concerned about health risks because the women are new to the sport.

They also will face more experienced boxers in Manila.

"Women have slower reflexes than men. They are more prone to injury," Tommy believes. "I know Thailand and Philippines began women's boxing five years ago. Some of their boxers are Asian champions."

Despite his concerns, some observers argue that in gender- based differences in sports, men may have greater upper body strength and faster reflexes, but women have more accurate responses.

Coach Sudarmadi brushed aside the concerns about female fighters, pointing to his team's sporting backgrounds.

"They are already used to contact sports from competing in karate, pencak silat and tae kwon do in the past.

"They've already got good technique. Now we are working on their speed."

The women train six hours daily under Sudarmadi and Nurlena. They are scheduled to take part in the Asian Championships in Chinese Taipei in August, with the boxing association considering another possible competition before the SEA Games.

Sudarmadi is realistic about the women's chances, saying any medal would be a bonus in squaring off against boxers from regional powerhouses Thailand and the host nation.

"I know it will be tough there," Riris said of Manila. "But we are determined to give our best effort."

Asked if she ever worried about the risk of injury when she stepped into the ring, Veronika said: "I have no fear whatsoever. If I did, I should just put my feet up in bed."

Women boxers for SEA Games:
- Jein Gereta (46kg)
- Rumiris Simarmata (48kg)
- Veronika Nicolas (50kg)
- Elisawati (54kg)
- Agnes Datu Sulang (60kg)