Thomas event gets Rp 1.2b in profit<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) reaped
\napproximately Rp 1.2 billion (US$136,000) in profits from hosting
\nthe Thomas and Uber Cups competitions in Jakarta a few weeks ago,
\naccording to an official.<\/p>\n
Chief of the organizing committee Sulistyanto, who is also a
\nPBSI chief in charge of foreign affairs, said that the profit
\nfigures were from ticket sales.<\/p>\n
\"We got approximately Rp 400 million from the semifinal
\nmatches on May 14 alone,\" he said after meeting with the National
\nSports Council (KONI) here on Monday.<\/p>\n
The May 14 semifinals featured a match between Indonesia and
\nDenmark, which the Danes won.<\/p>\n
Sulistyanto said the intake could have been higher if
\nIndonesia had advanced to the final.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately, we did not make the final,\" he said, adding
\nthat the organizers had targeted Rp 1.8 billion based on
\ncalculations that the Indonesian men would play in the final and
\ntheir female compatriots in the semifinals.<\/p>\n
In fact, the women crashed out to South Korea in the
\nquarterfinals.<\/p>\n
The tickets for the preliminary matches were sold at Rp 50,000
\na piece while the prices for semifinals and final were Rp
\n150,000.<\/p>\n
Sulistyanto explained that the budget for holding the event
\nhad been expected at $603,000, but the cost was incurred by the
\nsponsors, which provided necessary equipment for the event, and
\nthe International Badminton Federation's financial assistance
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
Despite the profit, the Indonesian players should not expect
\nany bonuses as they failed to meet their target of retaining the
\nThomas Cup for the men and advancing to the semifinals for the
\nwomen. China won both trophies.<\/p>\n
KONI's general secretary Djohar Arifin said that people should
\nnot start pointing fingers to blame others for the failure.<\/p>\n
\"We'd better now get more focused on the upcoming Olympic
\nGames in Athens. We have to maintain our gold (medal) tradition
\nin badminton,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has secured 36 places in 12 sports for the world's
\nbiggest sporting showcase.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, hopes for another Olympic qualifier -- in women's
\ntrack cycling -- were dealt a blow after Uyun Muzizah and Santia
\nTri Kusuma flopped in their bids at the World Track Championships
\nin Melbourne, Australia, which ended on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Uyun, who competed in the 3000-meter race, finished 20th (top
\n10 qualify), while Santia was 12th (top four qualify) in the
\npoints race competition.<\/p>",
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