Muskita dominated his quarter-final in the day of the surprises at the Indonesian National Games
Twelve contests were held in the fifth competition day at the Indonesian National Games where further male quarter-finals scheduled. The men’s light welterweight (64kg), middleweight (75kg) and light heavyweight (81kg) boxers were in action in the fifth day of boxing in the National Games. Indonesia’s best future hope Maikhel Roberrd Muskita won his quarter-final bout easily in the day of the surprises.
The event is the return for the Indonesians to the national competitions after a long period due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The region of Papua is the host of the 20th edition of the Indonesian National Games where boxing is a popular sport and many of their previous stars and veterans decided to return to the stage. Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta hosted the last edition of the Asian Games in 2018 and their boxers earned two medals in that event. Indonesia also sent boxers to the Dubai 2021 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships.
Impressive number of 59 women boxers are attending in the National Games in seven weight classes: 45kg, 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg and 64kg. The number of the male boxers is 74 in the event and their best hopes can attend in ten different categories: 46kg, 49kg, 52kg, 56kg, 60kg, 64kg, 69kg, 75kg, 81kg and 91kg. The women’s 45kg and the men’s 46kg weight classes are additional divisions in the Indonesian National Games.
Libertus Gha competed in several international tournaments in the previous years and he arrived to Papua as one of the gold medal contenders at the light welterweight (64kg). The experienced boxer was not able to repeat his previous performance and suffered a surprise loss to Bali’s Jekri Riwu. His opponent competed in the 2016 Indonesian National Games five years ago but his success over Gha was a big surprise.
Farrand Papendang is member of the national team since 2015, he was quarter-finalist at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games therefore his success over Topas Rianda was not a surprise at the light welterweight (64kg). The 28-year-old Papendang controlled the first round and knocked out his rival in the second period. Alfino Caesar Nanlohy is also a strong boxer in this weight class who knocked out his opponent, Papua’s Rocky Anry Yamco in the first round.
Maikhel Roberrd Muskita is only 20-year-old but he was near to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 as a newcomer in the elite national team. The strong boxer dominated the first round of his middleweight (75kg) quarter-final against Jhon Yambe and stopped his opponent in the second. Muskita was planned to box in the last four with former Asian Games quarter-finalist veteran Vinky Montolalu but he was defeated by Onisimus Aser Kurube which was the next surprise of the day.
Bram Hendra Betaubun competed in international events and his experiences paid off in his quarter-final against Rido Sesarius Butarbutar. Betaubun knocked out his rival in the second round and marched into the semi-finals of the light heavyweight (81kg). Papua’s Muhammad Taufan Paransa is a high hope among the local boxers and proved his strength against Felix Nikson Mirino.
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