Shuttlers, lifter gets IOC scholarships<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Three badminton players and one weightlifter
\nhave been awarded two-year International Olympic Committee (IOC)
\nOlympic Solidarity Scholarships.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council announced on Thursday that the
\n1997 men's doubles world champions Candra Wijaya and Sigit
\nBudiarto, women's doubles specialist Deyana Lomban and junior
\nworld champion weightlifter Sri Indriyani had won the
\nscholarships.<\/p>\n
Another badminton player, men's singles player Taufik Hidayat
\nwho won the 1998 Brunei Open, received a scholarship awarded to
\nyoung athletes with good potential.<\/p>\n
Boxing coach Wim Gomies, who is currently in Cuba preparing
\nthe national boxing squad for the upcoming 13th Asian Games,
\nreceived a coaching scholarship. Wim won gold medals at the 1970
\nand 1978 Asian Games.<\/p>\n
The athletes' scholarships are only awarded to those deemed to
\nhave a chance of qualifying for the 2000 Olympics.<\/p>\n
Each athlete will receive US$1,200 a month from Sept. 1, 1998,
\nto Aug. 31, 2000. The money covers the cost of a coach, medical
\ncare, access to top class training facilities, accident insurance
\nand an allowance.<\/p>\n
Muchamad Muslimin from the sports council said the IOC gave
\nnotice of the awards on Sept. 9 through a letter signed by Pamela
\nVipond, who manges the scholarship scheme.<\/p>\n
As a condition of the awards, the athletes must observe good
\nsporting etiquette and training center rules. They must also
\napproach their respective training programs with dedication and
\ndiscipline.<\/p>\n
Candra said he was optimistic that he would meet the
\nrequirements and go on to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games in
\nSydney, Australia.<\/p>\n
\"My main ambition is not to qualify for the Olympics but to
\nwin an Olympic gold,\" he said optimistically.<\/p>\n
Taufik, a newcomer to the upper echelons of badminton, said
\nhis personal target was to be included in Indonesia's squad for
\nthe 2000 Olympics.<\/p>\n
Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar urged the athletes to
\nuse their scholarships responsibly because if they broke the
\nrules, they would be withdrawn by the IOC. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/shuttlers-lifter-gets-ioc-scholarships-1447893297",
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