Ciputra awards bonuses to Uber, Thomas Cuppers
Ciputra awards bonuses to Uber, Thomas Cuppers
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
said they will not interfere in the internal policy of each club
who are giving rewards to its shuttlers who were on the winning
Thomas Cup and Uber Cup squads.
PBSI secretary general RAJ Gosal said yesterday that the
national badminton body did not believe that the bonuses would
dishearten shuttlers whose clubs were unable to provide enormous
prizes.
Gosal was commenting on a gift worth Rp 400 million
(US$187,176) given by renowned construction tycoon Ciputra to
four members of Indonesia's badminton teams. The four shuttlers
came from the Jakarta-based Jaya Raya badminton club owned by the
construction tycoon.
"We'll let other clubs follow in Ciputra's footstep if they
want to do so," said Gosal.
World champion Susi Susanti, rising star Mia Audina and
doubles specialist Finarsih, who powered the Indonesian team to
regain the women's Uber Cup title after 19-year lapse, and men's
doubles player Bambang Suprianto received the bonuses during a
victory celebration in Ciputra-owned Tarumanegara university on
Friday.
Ciputra, apparently trying to avoid annoying his relationship
with Soerjadi, chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia
(PBSI), had earlier denied providing cash rewards for the
shuttlers.
The chairman had earlier declared that the PBSI would serve as
the judge who would equally distributes bonuses to each
Indonesia's triumphant Thomas and Uber Cuppers. Soerjadi said the
policy would prevent social hatred among the players.
PBSI gave each of the Indonesian Thomas Cup and Uber Cup
players Rp 25 million ($11,700) in cash several days after their
victories, but Soerjadi refused to call the gift bonuses.
Susi led the Indonesian Uber Cup team in blocking China from a
sixth successive victory with a 3-2 win last month. Bambang and
Rudy Gunawan won the first doubles match in Indonesia's 3-0 rout
over defending champion Malaysia. The victory gave the country
its first title after 10-year wait.
None of the four badminton stars were willing to explicitly
confirm the rewards to Kompas daily on Friday, saying that they
were committed to keeping their mouths shut. They finally
disclosed the open secret after they made agreement with each
other that they would share any possible effects of their
comment.
While Bambang, Finarsih and Mia were given houses, Susi
preferred receiving cash, saying that she had earlier been
awarded a house by Ciputra early this year.
"I will deposit the money for my future," Susi, the winner of
all major titles, said. (amd)