Badminton stars to meet President Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto will host a victory celebration for Indonesia's triumphant Thomas and Uber Cup badminton teams at the State Palace on Monday.

RAJ Gosal, the Badminton Association of Indonesia's secretary- general, said yesterday that the winning teams will bring the trophies with them to show the president.

Both the trophies have been kept temporarily at the City Hall since the two 10-member strong squads returned home in style on Tuesday evening.

Soeharto congratulated the national badminton team for its glorious double shortly after Hariyanto Arbi clinched Indonesia's 3-0 unbeatable lead over Denmark in the Thomas Cup final on Sunday.

Hariyanto and company went on to complete a 5-0 drubbing of Denmark that extended Indonesia's celebrations after the female team notched up a 4-1 win over China for the Uber Cup title.

After the stately gathering, the badminton heroes and heroines will join fellow Olympic hopefuls at a celebratory gathering held by the National Sports Council.

A parade across the city will follow, starting from the council's headquarters at around 14:00 hours.

Gosal said that there would be only two cars used in the parade. Unlike last year's procession, the shuttlers will sit down during the 30-kilometer round-the-city tour.

"We want to avoid making the players exhausted after the parade. We are also aware of their safety," Gosal said.

The journey will proceed from the council's office at Senayan, Jl. Asia Afrika, along Jl. Gerbang Pemuda, Jl. S. Parman, the Tomang intersection, Jl. Ir. Juanda, Jl. Gunung Sahari, Jl. Senen Raya, Jl. Jatinegara before finishing at the badminton base camp at Cipayung, East Jakarta.

Gosal said that the badminton body has considered another two parades outside Jakarta, but no decisions about the dates and places have been made. "They should be held on weekends," he said.

Meanwhile, team manager Lutfi Hamid said that only Joko Suprianto, Alan Budikusuma, Susi Susanti and Mia Audina are fit enough for the Atlanta Olympic Games in July.

"The four shuttlers have reached 90 percent of the required form. Other players, including Haryanto Arbi, are only between 70 and 80 percent fit," Lutfi said.

He said that a rigorous training program will be set up to push the players to the ideal form prior to the Olympics. (yan)