Big bonuses await Indonesian archers
Big bonuses await Indonesian archers
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian women's archery team's success in
saving their country from embarrassment at the just concluded
World Archery Championships has paid off in the form of cash
rewards.
Oetojo Oesman, chairman of the national archery body, made it
clear yesterday that Dahliana, Nurfitriyana Lantang and Hamdiah
would receive "token awards" for beating Germany 219-217 to
clinch the bronze on Sunday.
The win came after the three archers and their male teammates
crashed out of the other seven categories.
"This is just the way we thank and appreciate them. Such a
gift will also boost their teammates' performance," Oetojo said.
However, Oetojo, who chaired the 38th World Archery
Championships organizing committee, refused to disclose how much
they would get. "They will receive about as much as the team that
won the silver medal in the 1988 Olympic Games," he said.
Nurfitriyana teamed up with Kusuma Wardhani Lilies Handayani
to put Indonesia among the ranks of Olympic medal-winning nations
for the first time in Seoul seven years ago. The government
handed them a check worth Rp 32.5 million (US$14,773), but bigger
cash bonuses poured into their coffers afterwards.
"Don't look at the amount. We just want the athletes to know
that we take care of them," said Oetojo.
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports said on Sunday that the
government was considering rewarding the bronze medalists. He
also suggested that archery should be included among the
country's most favored sports, on the same level as badminton.
The Indonesian women's archers also qualify for the 1996
Olympics in Atlanta, their third appearance in the world's
biggest sporting meet since 1988. The top eight teams at the
world championships won Olympic berths.
The world archery body (FITA) will also award national archery
figure, KGPAA Sri Paku Alam VIII, a silver medal for his
distinguished efforts to develop the sport in Indonesia.
"Sri Paku Alam will be the first Indonesian to receive the
honor," said Haroen, Indonesia's representative in FITA.
Perpani earlier proposed Paku Alam be given a gold medal, but
FITA refused, saying that only those who help archery worldwide
deserve the highest award. (amd)