Half dozen of surprises in the finals of the Indonesian National Games

The boxing tournament of the great multisport event the Indonesian National Games finished with its eighth and last competition day with the final contests in the city of Bandung which is located in Eastern Jawa and is the country’s main boxing event in 2016. The finals were held in all of the weight classes in the Indonesian National Games where several surprises were delivered by the younger boxers.
The National Games is holding for both genders and it is also a selection competition for the further international big events in the beginning of the new Tokyo 2020 Olympic era. After the selection events for the Indonesian National Games 175 boxers can take part in the competition in Bandung. Among them 67 will be women boxers while 31 provinces can send athletes to the Games where Jawa Island will have maximum number of 16 competitors. Maluku, Papua, and Sumatera also will have big delegations in the National Games.
Women boxing developed well in Indonesia in the recent years and some of their athletes could be joined to the bests in Asia. Indonesia’s best women boxers competed in six weight classes: 48 kg, 51 kg, 54 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg and 64 kg. The top Indonesian men athletes attended in ten weight categories in Bandung: 46 kg, 49 kg, 52 kg, 56 kg, 60 kg, 64 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg, 81 kg and 91 kg.
Maluku Governor Cup winner 20-year-old Endang eliminated Indonesia’s best woman boxer Beatrichx Suguro in the quarter-final stage of the National Games which was a big sensation in the competition. Endang continued her great performance and defeated Merlin Tomatala in the semi-finals and continued her winning path also for the gold medal against national team member Angelina Niis. The final verdict was split decision to Endang who claimed her first title in the National Games.
Maluku Governor Cup silver medallist Erni Amalia Lestari proved top performance in the semi-final of the Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg) in Bandung when she was able to eliminate Indonesian Women’s National Championships silver medallist Fitra Fani. Her gold medal rival was Serlin Alin Kase who did a small surprise in the fourth competition day when she defeated Southeast Asian Games competitor Novita Sinadia. Lestari not only win their final contest but dominated the fight winning the gold medal by large margin of difference against her talented rival.
National Golden Gloves winner Norbertha Tajum competed for Indonesia at the 2014 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju, South Korea and arrived to the National Games as a gold medal contender. She eliminated her main rival at the Women’s Bantamweight class (54 kg) Southeast Asian Games bronze medallist Esther Kalayukin in the first preliminary round and continued her winning path against veteran Indri Sambaimana in the quarter-finals and did not give any chance to Yamina Babinga in the semi-finals. Her gold medal opponent was Diandra Pieters in the Indonesian National Games in Bandung but she was not able to repeat her previous performance. Central Region’s Selection Tournament winner Pieters is a new face in women’s boxing but her efforts were enough to beat Tajum in the gold medal bout.
Southeast Asian Games silver medallist and AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event competitor Christina Marwan Jembay moved back to her original Featherweight class (57 kg) in the recent weeks but she felt the rhythm well enough in the semi-final and final of the Indonesian National Games. She eliminated her main rival in the last four Imaculata Loda and did her last step to win the gold medal in Bandung against Silpa Ratu. The final verdict was unanimous decision to Jembay who dominated the weight class from Day 1.
2015 Maluku Women’s Governor Cup winner Juliana Patty of Maluku moved up to the Lightweight class (60 kg) before the start of the National Games and the talented lady proved her speed in the quarter-final against Weny Sasnita and continued her winning path against Nur Hikma in the semi-final. Patty kept her concentration for the gold medal with Maluku Governor Cup winner Huswatun Hasanah and claimed her first national title.
Welmy Pariama has been boxing for Indonesia since 2008 and she is one of the most experienced female athlete of the country. She moved up to the Light Welterweight class (64 kg) but adopted the level of the punches quickly and defeated Vika Lido Yovita in the semi-final and also dominated her last bout for the gold medal against inexperienced Salomina Yerisiteouw in Bandung.
Indonesian National Golden Gloves Tournament bronze medallist Jeki Manalu lost to Indri German Hutagaol in the previous competitions but this time he was able to beat one of the main favourite of the Men’s Pinweight class (46 kg) which was his key bout in the Games. Following his great quarter-final triumph he eliminated Andi Wandira in the semi-finals and controlled to his gold medal bout against Maluku Governor Cup winner Valentinus Nahak.
Indonesia’s best man boxer ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Kornelis Kwangu Langu of Bali dominated his preliminary contest against Maluku Governor Cup silver medallist Prasetyo in the Men’s Light Flyweight class (49 kg), did not give any chance to his second rival Busman Halim in the quarter-finals and Bali’s pride stopped also Wawan Darmawan in the semi-finals. The 26-year-old top boxer had to meet for the gold medal with Ferdinand B. Kase who knocked out Irfan Tentonda in the semi-final and looked energetic in the first round. The younger Indonesian boxer delivered a big sensation in the day of the finals when he was able to beat Kornelis Kwangu Langu in Bandung.
The biggest sensation of the preliminary rounds in the Indonesian National Games was delivered by 19-year-old Sunan Agung Amoragaram who triumphed over Indonesia’s best boxer Southeast Asian Games winner Julio Bria, continued his winning path against Lucky Hari in the quarter-final and advanced to the gold medal bout after beating Novli Engkeng in the last four. Maluku’s super talented boxer won all of the rounds against Alberto Alfons in the final of the Men’s Flyweight class (52 kg) while another favourite Aldoms Suguro claimed only bronze medal in the National Games.
Former AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships competitor Dadan Amanda won several titles in the Indonesian National Championships and returned after a short break to accomplish his goals in the National Games. He had a quick success in the quarter-final over Decky Entamoy and dominated his semi-final against another national team member boxer Apniel Daniel in the last four. Amanda did his very best for the gold medal against Atris Neolaka in the last competition day and finally his hand was raised. His opponent was injured before the final bell and Amanda proved he is still enough strong to win such a big event as the National Games.
ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships competitor Farand Papendang was one of the favourite of the Men’s Lightweight class (60 kg) who proved top performance in the quarter-final against Charles Tungga winning the bout by unanimous decision. He continued the winning series against Gregorius of Bali in the last four but 23-year-old Papendang’s main gold medal opponent newcomer Gresty Alfons was too strong for him. 25-year-old Alfons defeated also Southeast Asian Games silver medallist Matius Mandiangan therefore his final success was a well deserved one in the National Games.
DKI’s strong national team member boxer Asian Games quarter-finalist Vinky Montolalu was amazing in his opening contests in the Indonesian National Games. He is member of the national team since 2010 and proved different style of boxing than Central Region’s Libertus Gah in the quarter-final of the Light Welterweight class (64 kg). He defeated also Weldy Mabilaka in the semi-finals and met for the gold with Eindhoven Box Cup silver medallist Panser Pattinama who stopped experienced Miftah Rifai Lubis in the quarter-final and Saroha Tua Tobing in the last four. Pattinama is not enough experienced yet as he has bee boxing in the national level since 2012 but his efforts were enough to beat his top rival in Bandung which was another surprise in the National Games.
Penang International Tournament silver medallist Sandyarto Deno Feroza competed at the 2014 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Bangkok, Thailand and his experiences in the continental events delivered for him a place in the final at the Welterweight class (69 kg) in the National Games. The 19-year-old boxer defeated Insanul Sabri by unanimous decision and continued his winning path for the gold medal against Saputra Samada who eliminated national team member Kusdiyono in the semi-final.
Southeast Asian Games winner veteran Alex Tatontos returned to the world of boxing after a short break and dominated his quarter-final contest against Bram Betaubun in Bandung. In his next Middleweight class (75 kg) contest he eliminated National Golden Gloves Tournament winner Agus Firmansyah with impressive performance. Tatontos boxed in the same level for the gold medal with Marvin Batuwael who eliminated experienced Kristianus Nong Sedo in the second semi-final of the weight class. The veteran Tatontos was in different level and won the gold medal bout by unanimous decision in Bandung.
Indonesia’s veteran boxer David Iskiwar began his career at the Lightweight class (60 kg) but after one decade he moved up to the Light Heavyweight class (81 kg) where he is also successful. Iskiwar eliminated Hendrik Sukamto in the quarter-final of the category and knocked out Yudi Chandra in the third round of their semi-final bout therefore he was the favourite of the final opponent against Joshua Manulang who eliminated Papua’s Taufan Paransa in a narrow bout in the last four. Java’s new pride exceeded the previous expectations and won the gold medal after beating Iskiwar in the final of the weight class.
Muhammad Yunus Pane was the main favourite for the gold medal at the Heavyweight class (91 kg) who competed for Indonesia at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games. The experienced boxer defeated Papua’s veteran Zemba Ronsumbre in the last eight and needed to do more in the semi-final when he met with another favourite Timotius Rumpaidus. The final verdict was split decision to Yunus Pane who should have been done only one further successful step to win the gold medal of the category against Nasruddin. His opponent was also an experienced one who attended in the 2009 Southeast Asian Games and won the national title in 2014. Nasruddin surprised Yunus Pane with his tactic and his punches were even more successful in the last bout of the National Games.

Winners in the Indonesian National Games
Women’s 48 kg: Endang
Women’s 51 kg: Erni Amalia Lestari
Women’s 54 kg: Diandra Pieters
Women’s 57 kg: Christina Marwan Jembay
Women’s 60 kg: Juliana Patty
Women’s 64 kg: Welmy Pariama
Men’s 46 kg: Jeki Manalu
Men’s 49 kg: Ferdinand B. Kase
Men’s 52 kg: Sunan Agung Amoragam
Men’s 56 kg: Dadan Amanda
Men’s 60 kg: Gresty Alfons
Men’s 64 kg: Panser Pattinama
Men’s 69 kg: Sandyarto Deno Feroza
Men’s 75 kg: Alex Tatontos
Men’s 81 kg: Joshua Manulang
Men’s 91 kg: Nasruddin