A new dawn beckons in Laos

2009/11/22

By Devinder Singh

SIX Malaysian boxers carry the country's challenge at the Laos Sea Games next month with the mission to raise the profile of a sport which once captured the attention of Malaysians. Following the retirement of Sapok Biki, the Malaysian Amateur Boxing Federation (MABF) has struggled to produce boxers of the same calibre as the 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Malaysia did win two gold medals at the 2001 Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur through Zainuddin Siddi and Adnan Jusoh -- Malaysian boxing's most successful outing -- but it was also the last time the national boxers brought home a gold medal.

Two years ago in Korat, Thailand, Zamzai Azizi Mohammad and Farkhan Haron reached the light flyweight and welterweight finals respectively but were pounded into by submission by superior Thai fighters.

While Zamzai has since retired, Farkhan returns for another tilt at the gold medal which eluded him in a squad boasting the experience of Eddey Kalai and Paunandes Paulus and the youth of the aptly named Muhammad Ali Abdul Karim, Fairus Azwan Abdullah and Fuad Redzuan.

MABF is coy about its chances in Vientiane, settling for anyone making the finals, but coach Ramli Yahya has more confidence in the ability of his boxers.

After undergoing a month-long training stint in Thailand, Ramli believes all six pugilists can make the finals.

"Since we have been here, I have noticed that the boxers are gaining in confidence and maturity. We have not had the chance to spar with the top Thai boxers, but those who we have sparred with are just as good.

"Our boxers are able to hold their own against the Thais and are not overawed by their opponents. This will bode well for us when we go to the Sea Games," said Ramli, when contacted in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand recently.

The boxers travelled around Thailand to be exposed to different fighters, spending a week each in Haadyai, Surat Thani, Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani.

Working in Malaysia's favour at the Sea Games this time is the restriction of the number of boxers a country can enter in the men's 10 events to six.

This is to prevent the clean sweep of the men's events by Thailand in Korat, with five of the six gold medals in the women's divisions also won by Thais.

But MABF is holding its cards close to the chest and does not want to reveal which events the boxers will be entered in.

Changes can be made till a day before the weigh-in so MABF will make a final decision closer to the start of the boxing events on Dec 11.

"It is not that we want to keep it a secret but we do not want to give away clues to our rivals. We want to see first which categories Thailand enter so that we can make the necessary adjustments if required," said Ramli.

"Our chances of winning medals will be enhanced if we avoid the Thai boxers although that does not mean we fear them.

"In fact, I think everyone of these six boxers can win medals, only the colour remains to be decided."

The boxers' preparations were not without trouble as B. Perabagaran was ruled out of the Games after being set upon by a group of men at a food stall in Lumut, Perak last month.

The injuries suffered by Royal Malaysian Navy physical education instructor Perabagaran, 21, were severe enough to dash his hopes of going to Vientiane.