Boy Pohan, Indonesian Boxing Referee At The 2024 Paris Olympics
JAKARTA Boxing referee from Indonesia, Muhammad Arisa Putra Pohan, will be the judge of the International Technical Officials who served in the semifinals and finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The figure who is familiarly called Boy Pohan is one of the 15 referees left today and the only one from Southeast Asia. He was previously selected along with 44 other names to be a referee in Paris.
"The rest were sent home because they got an assessment below the referee's leadership standard. As referees, we must not make the wrong score," Boy said in the statement.
Boy had to take part in a number of rigorous selections by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be able to lead world-class boxing matches on the Olympic stage.
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He said that he must compete with referees of more than 80 countries in the world in the rigorous selection process.
"The selection is quite tight. I participated in the selection at the European Championship in Poland and qualifying in Africa until finally 44 of the best jury referees were selected for boxing from around the world," he said.
Boy served at least three times every day in Paris. His performance in each match received a direct assessment of Price Waterhouse Cooper as auditor and Paris Boxing Unit appointed directly by the IOC.
He explained that since the preliminary round until the quarter-finals, he has served five times. In one assignment, he got three assignments for two different roles.
"Twice being a referee and once being a judge. It all gets an assessment. If it's not good then we will be sent home," he said.
The 2024 Paris Olympics are the second time Boy has recorded his appearance leading a boxing match at the Olympics. Previously, he made his debut on behalf of Indonesia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"I also hope that in Los Angeles 2028 there will be Indonesian boxing athletes who appear. If the referee is a judge, God willing, I can still fight again. If there are Indonesian athletes who appear, of course they are different (such as)," he said.