Seven Indonesian Boxers Participate In The ExISTing Championships In Morocco

JAKARTA - The Executive Board of the Indonesian amateur Boxing Association (PB Pertina) sent seven athletes to the prestigious boxing championship titled the World Boxing Tour Golden Belt Series 2023. This event starts from January 31 to February 11 in Marrakesh, Morocco.

The seven names each consist of five male and two female fighters. From the men's sector there are Memories of Inauguration (51kg class), Asriudin (57kg), Farrand Papendang (63 kg), Sarohatuma Lumban Tobing (71kg), and Michael Mustika (86kg), while women adalh Israela Saweho (48kg) and Uswatun Hasanah (63kg).

The Manager of the Indonesian Boxing Team, Hengky Silatang, said that Indonesia is not grandiose about the target because boxers from strong countries who have the tradition of champions compete in this event. Therefore, the Red and White team only wants to increase the flight hours.

"There are from Cuba, Mexico, the United States, the state factions of the Soviet Union, and boxers from Europe. We are only looking for experience and flight hours. We are grateful that some are able to excel," said Hengky, quoted by Antara.

In addition to increasing flight hours, this event will also be used by Indonesian boxing athletes as part of preparations to face the XXXII/2023 SEA Games at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 5-17.

Especially in the biggest biennial sporting event in Southeast Asia, Pertina is targeting the target of bringing home two gold medals.

"There are still about four months before the Cambodian SEA Games later. We have to prepare the boxer well so that the two gold medals can be achieved," he said.

The Red and White Squad met with the Morocco Ambassador to Indonesia Ouadia Benabdellah in Jakarta on Friday. On that occasion, Indonesian boxers received an offer to undergo coaching clinics.

"Indonesian boxers will take advantage of this opportunity as best they can," said Hengky.

In addition to the championship in Morocco, Pertina is also planning to send Indonesian boxers to train in Cuba for one month.

"We plan to send 11 boxers with details of eight sons and three daughters for the Cambodian SEA Games. We also plan to go to Cuba in March, we are still waiting for help from the Ministry of Youth and Sports," said Hengky.