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)