Ananda receives kudos from Megawati

Ananda receives kudos from Megawati

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri has thrown
her weight behind Indonesian Formula 3000 driver Ananda Mikola's
ambition to promote the country during competition seasons
abroad.

Ananda's father, Tinton Suprapto, quoted Megawati as saying
that Ananda's achievement on the international circuit would help
Indonesia to improve its image.

She made the comment at a Friday evening meeting at her
residence with Ananda and Tinton. Also attending were State
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela, State
Minister of Tourism and Arts Hidayat Jaelani and Ananda's
manager, Piers Hunnisett of England.

"He (Ananda) is a national tourism envoy and his role should
be increased. We have to be very proud of him because he can
still compete overseas despite the economic crisis suffered by
our country," Megawati said.

She also asked Ananda to remain focused on his goals, because
he was still searching for a spot in the Formula One Grand Prix.

Ananda has been based in Italy for the past three years while
he competes in Formula 3 and Formula 3000 events.

He earlier said that he was bombarded with questions on East
Timor during the last serie this year following the international
furor over the bloodshed in Indonesia's former 27th province.

Nineteen-year-old Ananda is scheduled on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24
to take part in the FIA F3000 International racing test in
Barcelona, Spain.

Tinton said that in the meeting, Ananda requested support from
the government for his performances in the world arena.

"The minister and Ananda's team manager explained about
Ananda's activities. He needs support from the government and
related institutions to help him achieve them," he told Antara on
Friday.

Former national racer Tinton and his team earlier in the week
paid visits to the offices of the state minister of tourism and
arts and the state minister of youth affairs and sports.

Mahadi and Hidayat have pledged to support Ananda starting
from his participation in the F3000 rally to the F1. (ivy)