Hectic schedule awaits newly crowned Angie<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Wimbledon girls' singles champion Angelique
\nWidjaja arrived home on Tuesday, surprised to see so many people
\nflocking the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport upon her
\narrival.<\/p>\n
Angie, Angelique's nickname, was also surprised to be told
\nthat a schedule of meetings with local media, sports officials
\nand the President had been arranged.<\/p>\n
\"My mom told me by phone that there would be a welcome-home
\nreception but I never thought there would be so many people. I am
\nflattered and very surprised. Usually only my family greets me
\nwhen I come home,\" Angie told reporters at the airport.<\/p>\n
\"I also want to thank all Indonesians for their support, which
\nhelped me to grab the title. It has really boosted my confidence
\nand I am ready to try for more tennis achievements.\"<\/p>\n
Besides her family, Angie's coaches Deddy Tedjamukti and
\nMeyske Handayani Wiguna were also present. Officials from the
\nIndonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) and the National Sports
\nCouncil (KONI) were also observed at the airport.<\/p>\n
The 1.73-meter-tall International Tennis Federation (ITF)
\nworld number three is the first Indonesian to win a Grand Slam
\ntitle ever. Her achievement exceeded senior Yayuk Basuki's, whose
\nbest result was as a quarterfinalist in 1997 at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n
Just after her arrival, Angie was taken to meet KONI chairman
\nWismoyo Arismunandar at his office in Senayan.<\/p>\n
\"We must design a training program to enable Angie to become a
\nWimbledon champion in the senior division. We must not waste such
\na promising talent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Next on the list was a special interview at SCTV private TV
\nstation in West Jakarta, where Angie stated that her tour was
\nfinanced solely by her parents.<\/p>\n
\"So far, Pelti has only given support but never helped me
\nfinancially. My papi (father) keeps saying that he will continue
\nsupporting my tennis career financially,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"However, I don't want to burden him and I must think of
\ngetting more sponsorship.\"<\/p>\n
Angie's father, Rico Widjaja, told reporters that his 16-year-
\nold daughter already had some sponsorship.<\/p>\n
\"Angie has a contract with Nike for her apparel and shoes,
\nwith Wilson for her racquets and with Pinnacle for the strings
\nand grips. These sponsorships have reduced my financial burden,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"The ITF has covered all board and lodging expenses, leaving
\nus to cover the airfares. We have planned that Angie should reach
\nthe senior level in two years, to enable her to finance herself.<\/p>\n
\"Should she fail, Angie is planning to use her scholarship in
\nthe U.S. Until then, we can only do our best.\"<\/p>\n
Angie is aiming to compete at the U.S. Open early in September
\nbefore representing the country at the Southeast Asian (SEA)
\nGames in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid expressed his gratitude for
\nAngie's success.<\/p>\n
\"The President wants to congratulate Angie directly for her
\nachievement, which he considers as being at the same world-class
\nlevel as Martina Hingis of Switzerland and other world tennis
\nplayers,\" said spokesman Wimar Witoelar, himself a former Pelti
\nofficial.<\/p>\n
Wahid is scheduled to meet Angie on Thursday. (nvn)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hectic-schedule-awaits-newly-crowned-angie-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }