It's Been 20 Years Since Amateur Boxing Has Not Qualified The Olympics

JAKARTA It's been 20 years since amateur boxers have not had representatives to qualify for the Olympics, which is the largest multiajang in the world.

Former amateur boxer and quarter-finalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, La Paene Masara, said that it was quite sad that during that time amateur boxing had no representatives at the Olympics.

"As a former boxer, I see the world of Indonesian amateur boxing very sad," he said when met at the Office of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora), Thursday, May 2, 2024, at noon.

Finally, the Indonesian boxer who appeared at the Olympics was Bonix Yusak Saweho in the 2004 edition in Athens. At that time, Bonix appeared with a wild card facility.

Meanwhile, the last boxers qualified for the Olympics were La Paene and Hermensen Ballo. Both at that time qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

La Paese said that not being able to pass Indonesia's representatives from boxing through the qualifying round would certainly be a critical sign for the sport.

"Lastly, Hermensen Ballo and I qualified through the King's Cup 2000 Bangkok Boxing Championship which is also the qualifying round for the 2000 Sydney Olympics," said La Paene.

Apart from La Paene, boxers who qualified and became quarter-finalists at the Olympics were Ferry Moniaga at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and Albert Papilaya at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

La Paene said the Executive Board of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (PB Pertina) under the leadership of Komarudin Simanjuntak should study the success of the previous management.

"Not only holding minimal national championships, but sending boxers to international events was not heard. Not only that, the national training camp (pelatnas) was not held," he said.