Shuttlers return heroes<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
ozens of high school students cheered and waved Indonesian
\nflags as Olympic gold medalist Taufik Hidayat arrived at
\nSoekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
About 30 shuttlers from the national training center in
\nCipayung were also among the crowd welcoming the returning hero.
\nThey clapped and chanted as the Olympic champion, followed by
\nfellow Olympic athletes, emerged from the VIP room at the
\nairport.<\/p>\n
Taufik, accompanied by bronze medalists Sony Dwi Kuncoro,
\nFlandy Limpele and Eng Hian, and other members of the Indonesian
\nsporting contingent, was greeted by National Sports Council
\n(KONI) chairman Agum Gumelar.<\/p>\n
Despite being given little chance of winning an Olympic medal,
\nTaufik proved his mettle by overpowering Shon Seung-mo of South
\nKorea in the final of the badminton men's singles competition.<\/p>\n
Though the Olympics are still underway in Athens, Taufik is
\nlikely to be Indonesia's lone gold medal winner, making him the
\nfocus of the celebrations.<\/p>\n
However, Agum praised all of Indonesia's Olympic athletes.
\n\"Everyone who fights for the country's honor is a hero. You are
\nall heroes to us for lifting the country's honor in international
\ncompetition by raising the Indonesian flag in Athens.\"<\/p>\n
With one week to go for the Olympics, the Indonesian
\ncontingent of 39 athletes and officials representing 13 sports
\nhas begun arriving home.<\/p>\n
Thirty-two athletes and officials arrived on Tuesday. They
\nwere from swimming, rowing, judo and badminton.<\/p>\n
More athletes and officials are expected to follow in the next
\nfew days. The cycling team is scheduled to arrive home on
\nSaturday, while the sailing, canoeing, track and field, tae kwon
\ndo and boxing teams are expected next week.<\/p>\n
Taufik's victory has maintained Indonesia's gold medal
\ntradition in the Olympics, which began at the Barcelona Games in
\n1992.<\/p>\n
Alan Budikusuma and Susi Susanto struck gold in Barcelona,
\nwhile Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky triumphed in Atlanta in
\n1996, and Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan enjoyed victory in
\nSydney in 2000.<\/p>\n
Weightlifter Lisa Rumbewas won silver in Athens, making
\nIndonesia's medal haul at the Games one gold, one silver and two
\nbronzes.<\/p>\n
\"Many people criticized me and wrote me off. I was fired up to
\nprove that I am still able to win,\" said Taufik, who arrived in
\nAthens with only one tournament victory this year at the Asian
\nChampionship.<\/p>\n
\"My next target is to win the All England Championship and the
\nWorld Championship next year,\" he said. Taufik has lost twice in
\nthe final of the All England.<\/p>\n
Taufik said he planned to take a short break before next
\nmonth's National Games in Palembang, South Sumatra, where he will
\nrepresent West Java.<\/p>\n
The Olympic gold will also mean a financial windfall for
\nTaufik. Apart from the Rp 1 billion (US$111,111) promised by KONI
\nfor a gold medal, Taufik can likely expect other bonuses.<\/p>\n
\"KONI will hand the cash bonuses to the athletes as soon as
\npossible,\" Agum said.<\/p>\n
West Java Sports Council head Eka Santoso said he would ask
\nthe West Java administration to present Taufik with a cash bonus
\nof Rp 170 million.<\/p>",
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