Only three Games trainees make finals

18/06/1998

SEVEN Malaysians were expected to make the finals of the Kings' Cup at the
Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam, but only three managed to squeeze through.
"We did not expect the Taiwanese boxers to show so much improvement,"
said team manager Abdullah Dullah Siok.
Taiwan, the traditional punching bags in the sport, have two boxers in
the finals tomorrow. Chung Hsien Tu will meet Adnan Jusuh of Malaysia in
the 54kg event, while Shan Che Lo will fight Somsak Janthaporn of Thailand
in the 81kg bout.
The other Malaysians in the finals are Benny Thomas and B. Muruguthevan.
Rakib Ahmad, Eddie Suip, Andrew Kanis and Samsudin Maidin - the other
Malaysians preparing for the Commonwealth Games - failed in their
semifinals.
"The Taiwanese were no match for our boys last year but they have
improved," said Abdullah.
Thomas was the only survivor in the semifinals yesterday but that too by
the skin of his teeth. He was tied 18-18 on points with fellow Malaysian
Azani Azam but advanced to the final because of a better score in the
preliminaries.
In the final, Thomas will square off against Thailand's Manus Boon
Jamnung who thrashed Taiwan's Wu Hsin Lung 21-5 in the semifinals.
On Tuesday, Muruguthevan sprang a major upset when he beat Sea Games
gold medallist Wilpare Jamhur in the 60kg semifinal while Adnan made the
final in the 54kg event.
In the opening bout yesterday, Rakib was unlucky when he lost in the
51kg division by one point to Indonesia's Hermensen Ballo 20-19.
In the other semifinals, Uten Utapon defeated Eddie 18-9 (51kg event);
Andrew lost 18-7 to Thai Pongsak Hriantua (63.5kg event); and Samsudin
lost 8-7 to Thailand's Jakpong Suwunnalird (67kg).
Malaysia Amateur Boxing Federation president Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Samad
will give away the medals.
Finals (tomorrow) - 48kg: Somjit Jong Johar (Thai) v Damianus Jordan
(Indon); 51kg: Hermawan Ballo (Indon) v Utepon Utapon (Thai); 54kg: Chung
Hsien Tu (Tai) v Adnan Jusuh (Mas); 57kg: Berny Thomas (Mas) v Manus
Boonjamnong (Thai); 60kg: Somchai Nakbalee (Thai) v B. Muruguthevan (Mas);
63.5kg: Pongsak Hrianthuan Thong (Thai) v Welem Papilaya (Indon); 67kg:
Jakpong Suwunnalird (Thai) v Bora Gomes (Indon); 75kg: Beng Huat Cheng
(Mas) v Sayidkhan Kulamhamad (Thai); 81kg: Shan Che Lo (Tai) v Somsak
Janthaporn (Thai).
(END)