Parade for Thomas Cup heroes<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Guangzhou, China<\/p>\n
Indonesia's champion shuttlers, who have just defended the men's
\nteam Thomas Cup badminton title here, will have a tight schedule
\non Wednesday in Jakarta, including a luncheon with President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri followed by a parade.<\/p>\n
\"The team is scheduled to have lunch with Ibu Megawati to
\nhonor its success in making history by holding the Cup five times
\nin a row,\" the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
\nchairman, Chairul Tanjung, told reporters here on Monday before
\nthe team left this southern Chinese city.<\/p>\n
\"After the presidential luncheon, we will make a courtesy call
\nto Governor Sutiyoso at City Hall before taking the shuttlers on
\na parade so the public will be able to see our sports heroes,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Chairul also said that the president made a personal phone
\ncall to congratulate him and the whole team for their heroic and
\nhistoric feat as soon as third singles Hendrawan won his match
\nagainst Malaysian Muhammad Roslin Hashim, which decided the
\ntitle.<\/p>\n
Indonesia defeated Malaysia 3-2 after trailing 1-2 in the
\nfinals at Guangzhou's Tianhe Sports Center.<\/p>\n
The tentative parade route is scheduled to start from City
\nHall on Wednesday at around 3 p.m. The team will then be driven
\nalong Jl. M.H. Thamrin, the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, down
\nJl. Sudirman, crossing under the Semanggi cloverleaf, making a U-
\nturn at the Senayan traffic circle and then entering the Bung
\nKarno Sports Complex through the Hilton Hotel gate before making
\na stop at the Istora Indoor Stadium.<\/p>\n
\"We will have fans gathering at the indoor stadium to allow
\nthe public to see them directly and interact with their sporting
\nheroes,\" said Chairul.<\/p>\n
When asked whether PBSI would provide a bonus for the
\nshuttlers, Chairul said he was still gathering the money from
\nprominent businesspeople who have an interest in sports
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
Sponsor Yonex was reported to have committed US$60,000 in
\nbonuses if Indonesia won the Thomas Cup.<\/p>\n
Chairul said that the seven starters on the team would receive
\nthe lion's share of the bonus. They seven are Hendrawan, Marlev
\nMainaky, Taufik Hidayat, Candra Wijaya, Halim Haryanto, Sigit
\nBudiarto and Tri Kusheryanto.<\/p>\n
He also said that the government was considering a plan to
\naward sports heroes with special recognition for outstanding
\nachievements.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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