GOING THE DISTANCE: Fred (right) and Mohd Zainuddin at the Kuching Civic Centre yesterday after an interview with The Borneo Post.
KUCHING: State boxing coach Fred Mandagi reckons that preparations for next year’s Sukma are proceeding despite a new ruling.
Despite the sudden change in age limit for boxing in Sukma 2014, he has shortlisted a few candidates to fight for the state’s honour in the national event.
Fred, who was informed late regarding the rule change, has decided to bank on fresh talents rather than throw in the towel.
But he admitted the stiff challenge of training the boxers in such a short space of time.
“The Sukma XVII organisers (Perlis) have their right to set the age limit and despite at least eight states opposing the decision, the age limit ruling still stands. There is nothing we could do about it,” he revealed.
Sarawak’s boxers for Sukma will enter centralised training in December in Betong, where his training centre is located.
While he has yet to decide the number of female boxers to be selected, he is expecting nine male boxers to make the cut eventually.
Fred was in Kuching yesterday with his assistant Mohd Zainuddin Sidi.