Rp 200m offered for gold medalist<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Table Tennis Association (PTMSI) is offering Rp
\n200 million (US$23,500) in cash for any table tennis player who
\ncan win a gold medal at the 22nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.<\/p>\n
"The bonuses will be provided only for gold medalists," Dedi
\nK. Wikanta told a media conference here on Friday.<\/p>\n
Dedi said the promises were a clear sign of the association's
\nappreciation of the players, who had trained hard in their
\noverseas camp in Pyongyang, North Korea, and were expected to
\nmotivate them further to excel their efforts at the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
The 22nd SEA Games will be staged from Dec. 5 to 13 in
\nVietnam.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian table tennis body has prepared nine athletes,
\neight of whom, five men and three women, have been training in
\nPyongyang since July.<\/p>\n
They are Ismu Harinto, David Jacob, Jaenuddin, Yon Mardiono,
\nReno Handoyo, Christine, Nilasari and Septi Diah.<\/p>\n
One other -- Lindawati -- is in Beijing.<\/p>\n
"They were battling against the freezing weather of Pyongyang
\nduring their workouts. Hopefully, it will have built character
\nfor and prepared them for Vietnam," Dedi said.<\/p>\n
He said the team, which is under the coaching duo of Pak Yong-
\nnam and Li Song-gil, displayed an encouraging performance during
\ntheir participation in the China Open last September.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the medal prospects in Vietnam, Dedi said that
\nwhile the team would pose equal chances in the men's field they
\nwould push their women's contenders to shoot for gold in the
\ndoubles given the current regional strength map that Singapore,
\nwith its three Chinese migrants on the squad, would be definitely
\ntough to beat in the singles.<\/p>\n
"They (three Chinese-Singaporeans) are almost invincible. We
\nwill be trying to fight it out in the doubles," he said, adding
\nthat Malaysian and Thai women would be other strong rivals.<\/p>\n
"Thailand is also strong in the men's along with host
\nVietnam," he said.<\/p>\n
In the Malaysian SEA Games two years ago, Indonesia only
\nbrought home two golds and three silvers. Singapore swept five of
\nseven golds on offer with Thailand and Vietnam taking one each.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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