Govt honors Thomas Cup team

Govt honors Thomas Cup team

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie marked National Sports
Day on Wednesday by presenting medals to the victorious Thomas
Cup men's badminton team in Surabaya.

The 10-member and its manager Agus Wirahadikusumah were
granted Satya Kebudayaan medals at the 10 November Stadium in the
East Java capital. Badminton coach Indra Gunawan and the team's
deputy manager Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar received the Wira
Karya medal. The team won the sport's most prestigious men's team
event for a record 11th time in Hong Kong in May.

Awards were also presented to 139 citizens, four provinces and
two companies for their distinguished efforts in developing
sports in the country. The people comprised 90 athletes, 23
sports promoters, four coaches and five referees.

In a brief speech, Habibie said the country still needed to
work hard to improve its sports' performance.

The President was originally scheduled to inaugurate a new
stadium in the neighboring town of Sidoardjo, but the ceremony
was canceled due to a mass protest demanding his resignation.
Habibie flew back to Jakarta shortly after the medal
presentation. (lnt)