Athletics body to award Rp 1.36b in scholarships to best athletes

Athletics body to award Rp 1.36b in scholarships to best athletes

JAKARTA (JP): Eight local sprinters, four men and four women,
will get scholarships worth Rp 1.36 billion (US$560,000) if they
perform to their best during the Junior Athletics Championships
here from Sept. 19 to Sept. 20.

The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association, which is
organizing the two day track and field event at the Madya
Stadium, is providing the scholarships.

The association's chairman, Mohammad "Bob" Hasan, announced
the scholarships Sunday at the opening of the Fourth National
Students' Games in Semarang, Central Java.

"Each region may select its athletes to represent it at the
Jakarta meet. The provinces can also send two men and two women
athletes, and one coach and an assistant to the tournament. The
association will provide transportation and accommodation costs
to Jakarta," Bob was quoted by Kompas saying Monday.

Bob said the scholarships would be awarded to 100 meter
sprinters who are no older than 19 years.

Education

The eight best runners will receive five-year scholarships.
The money will be distributed over five years, the amount each
year depending on the level of education.

The best runner will receive a Rp 75 million scholarship,
while the eight best runners will receive Rp 50 million
scholarships. Clubs and schools will receive Rp 5 million in
training fees, while the coaches will get Rp 500,000 a month.

"The scholarships will be given every five years provided the
athletes are still attending school and is able to maintain their
performances. If an athlete drops out of school or ceases to be
among the eight best, the scholarships will automatically be
terminated," Bob said.

Bob said the scholarships aimed to find talented athletes who
could make Indonesia internationally competitive.

"The association does not only want to produce athletes at the
Southeast Asian level but also for the Asian Games and Olympics,"
Bob said. (lnt)