Cups players and coaches to get Rp 25m gift each
JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has earmarked a total of Rp 800 million (US$374,000) from its coffers to reward the players and coaches who notched the Thomas and Uber Cup double over the weekend.
"Each player and coach will receive Rp 25 million ($11,700)," PBSI chairman Surjadi said during a victory celebration dinner last night. "Don't call it a bonus. You deserve it since you sweated to win both trophies," Surjadi stressed.
Cash rewards will also be given to Olympic men's singles champion Alan Budikusuma and men's doubles specialist Denny Kantono, two players who failed to make the Thomas Cup squad but were named team assistants. Both, however, received half as much their teammates'.
"We will never consider giving someone a bigger share than another in our victory," said Surjadi.
The chairman showed no traces of anger when vamped his way through a jazz song. On Tuesday he had not yet overcome his temper over media publications of enormous cash bonuses to be provided by a group of businessmen.
PBSI will also take Rp 50 million ($23,400) from the budget for social activities. The money will be distributed to several orphanages in the capital and its surroundings.
Parade
The Thomas and Uber Cup victory celebration will reach its climax tomorrow when both symbols of badminton excellence are shown to thousands of enthusiasts during a motorcade across the capital.
All Indonesian shuttlers who formed women's and men's winning teams will join the parade which is expected to cover more than 30 kilometers, going from Senayan indoor stadium to their home base at Cipayung, East Jakarta.
Badminton fans will be prevented from getting too close to their heroes and heroines by more than 450 security officials who will flank the shuttlers along the way.
"We hope to see the parade run without causing traffic problems," RAJ Gosal, PBSI secretary general said yesterday.
The shuttlers and the trophies will be picked up in two open cars, which will be followed by six vehicles carrying PBSI officials and related figures. The police will close each road affected by the procession only when the shuttlers are passing by.
The streets affected are Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Merdeka Selatan, Jl. Merdeka Utara, Jl. Majapahit, Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Samanhudi, Jl. Pasar Baru, Jl. Pintu Besi, Jl. Gunung Sahari, Jl. Senen Raya, Jl. Kramat raya, Jl. Salemba Raya, Jl. Matraman Raya, Jl. Jatinegara Timur, Jl. Otto Iskandar Dinata, Jl. Dewi Sartika, Cililitan, Jl. Kramat Jati and the Indonesian miniature park.
Joko Suprianto, Susi Susanti and company will pay a brief visit to Governor Surjadi Soedirdja at the City Hall for some 20 minutes. No less than 2,000 students, performers dancing the celebratory Ondel-ondel dance, and a drum band will welcome the shuttlers when they enter the City Hall.
The Indonesian men's team captured its ninth coveted Thomas Cup victory after downing title-holder Malaysia 3-0 in their shortened final. The country's women's shuttlers nipped defending champion China to claim their Uber Cup title for the first time since 1975.
Both trophies will stay at PBSI's headquarter at Cipayung until the national badminton body reaches a decision on whether another processions will be held at Java's three provinces.
PBSI's chapters in West Java, Central Java and East Java have asked for the same Thomas Cup and Uber Cup victory celebrations as PBSI does in the capital city. (amd)