Hectic schedule awaits newly crowned Angie
JAKARTA (JP): Wimbledon girls' singles champion Angelique Widjaja arrived home on Tuesday, surprised to see so many people flocking the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport upon her arrival.
Angie, Angelique's nickname, was also surprised to be told that a schedule of meetings with local media, sports officials and the President had been arranged.
"My mom told me by phone that there would be a welcome-home reception but I never thought there would be so many people. I am flattered and very surprised. Usually only my family greets me when I come home," Angie told reporters at the airport.
"I also want to thank all Indonesians for their support, which helped me to grab the title. It has really boosted my confidence and I am ready to try for more tennis achievements."
Besides her family, Angie's coaches Deddy Tedjamukti and Meyske Handayani Wiguna were also present. Officials from the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) and the National Sports Council (KONI) were also observed at the airport.
The 1.73-meter-tall International Tennis Federation (ITF) world number three is the first Indonesian to win a Grand Slam title ever. Her achievement exceeded senior Yayuk Basuki's, whose best result was as a quarterfinalist in 1997 at Wimbledon.
Just after her arrival, Angie was taken to meet KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar at his office in Senayan.
"We must design a training program to enable Angie to become a Wimbledon champion in the senior division. We must not waste such a promising talent," he said.
Next on the list was a special interview at SCTV private TV station in West Jakarta, where Angie stated that her tour was financed solely by her parents.
"So far, Pelti has only given support but never helped me financially. My papi (father) keeps saying that he will continue supporting my tennis career financially," she said.
"However, I don't want to burden him and I must think of getting more sponsorship."
Angie's father, Rico Widjaja, told reporters that his 16-year- old daughter already had some sponsorship.
"Angie has a contract with Nike for her apparel and shoes, with Wilson for her racquets and with Pinnacle for the strings and grips. These sponsorships have reduced my financial burden," he said.
"The ITF has covered all board and lodging expenses, leaving us to cover the airfares. We have planned that Angie should reach the senior level in two years, to enable her to finance herself.
"Should she fail, Angie is planning to use her scholarship in the U.S. Until then, we can only do our best."
Angie is aiming to compete at the U.S. Open early in September before representing the country at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.
President Abdurrahman Wahid expressed his gratitude for Angie's success.
"The President wants to congratulate Angie directly for her achievement, which he considers as being at the same world-class level as Martina Hingis of Switzerland and other world tennis players," said spokesman Wimar Witoelar, himself a former Pelti official.
Wahid is scheduled to meet Angie on Thursday. (nvn)