Published on: Saturday, February 28, 2004 |
Kota Kinabalu: Several young Sabah boxers selected for the Xth Malaysia Games are in for an early knockout if they do not get into shape fast.
With three months to go to the Games in late May, eight of the 11 boxers in the squad were found to be sluggish and unfit to enter the ring, warned the Sabah Amateur Boxing Association (Saba) on Friday
If they dont give serious attention to their fitness and stamina, Im very sure they wont last the first round, said Saba president Orlando Harumal. Time is running short. If they dont buck up now, they can say goodbye to the Games.
Theres no point sending them to Negeri Sembilan if they cant even last the first round, he said.
He said only three were considered fit enough to get into the ring in Negeri Sembilan in May. But even they are not believed to be fit to handle a full three-round bout.
Im still very concerned about their form because theyre only about 60 per cent fit, Orlando said when contacted Friday.
They must start focusing on fitness training when they return to home. Ill make sure that the district coaches monitor their performance, he said.
Those in the fit enough category are: Shamsudin, Eddy Kalai, Raymond Rahim and Paunandes Paulus. All are currently training with the national team in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
The other Sukma trainees are Mohd Nor Anif, Sharudin Shamsudin, Zulkifli Jumin, Roger Ubib, Larry Boy, Albert Lucius, Andrew Augustine and Ryandell Joparin Kitingan. Orlando blamed their fitness problem on their sluggish attitude in training and said the boxers only trained during the centralised training and stopped training when they returned home.
I dont know the reason (for their indifferent attitude). Ill be talking with the individual coaches to double their efforts to improve on their fitness.
I want them to improve because only then will they be worthy to be included into the squadÖI really mean it when I say they may miss the boat, he said.
The centralised training, which started on Feb 14 will end Saturday. The boxers will be back for the second round on March 27 prior to the State-level Mayors Cup boxing tournament from March 30-31.
Orlando said the Sukma boxers would be pitted against the seniors in the tournament.
The strategy of pitting them against more experienced boxers would give them high level competition and at the same time help them learn a few tricks from the senior boxers, he said.
