Women step into the boxing ring

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)