Athletes, officials to get sports awards

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian men's doubles champions Sigit Budiarto/Candra Wijaya will be awarded the Parama Krida Utama medal for their achievement at the 1997 World Championships in Glasgow in May.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman announced Tuesday that 52 athletes, 10 coaches, 13 sports organization officials and seven referees would be awarded medals to mark National Sports Day on Sept. 9 in Aceh.

Among those who will be given medals are Joko Suprihatno, who won gold in pencak silat (a regional form of martial arts) at the 1997 World Championships in Kuala Lumpur; and Indonesia's men's and women's traditional boat race teams who won six golds and one silver in eight events at the Second World Dragon Boat Championships in Hong Kong in June.

Powerlifter Sutrisno and weight lifter Sri Indriyani will receive Parama Krida Madya medals for their achievements in the world championships this year.

Bodybuilder I Gusti Agung Rai Kusuma Yudha, better known as Ade Rai, will also be awarded a Parama Krida Pratama.

Hayono said that Yayuk Basuki -- WTA ranked 22 in the singles and seventh in the doubles -- and former WBF title holder Suwito Lagola were not awarded medals.

Yayuk was excluded because the WTA ranking women's doubles list was issued after the selection board made their decision.

Suwito failed to make the list because the WBF stripped him of his title.

Hayono said the ceremony would be in Aceh because "it will encourage other provinces to train their athletes for national and international events, and show that the focus is not just on Jakarta or Java."

Vice Governor Zainuddin said several other activities were being organized to mark the day. These include the Coca Cola Cup final four, and the Aceh Open 10K -- in which Malaysian and Singaporean runners will also compete.

Vice President Try Sutrisno is expected to attend the ceremony. (yan)