Jakartans offer cool welcome to Thomas Cup team

JAKARTA (JP): Jakartans were apparently still recovering from the nightmare of recent riots yesterday, with few turning out to cheer a parade honoring their men's badminton squad after a successful defense of the Thomas Cup.

Despite the quiet reception, members of the squad were all smiles while waving to bystanders along the way from the National Sports Council office in Senayan to City Hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, in Central Jakarta.

The Thomas Cup the squad retained Sunday in Hong Kong was shown off during the short procession passing the city's main thoroughfares of Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin.

Small crowds of junior high school students seen at some bus shelters waved handkerchiefs and repeatedly yelled: "Ricky!". The popular Ricky Subagja formed an unbeatable pair with long-time partner Rexy Mainaky during the tournament.

The parade was in stark contrast to the reception two years ago when almost a million people took to the streets across the city to welcome the winning Thomas Cup and Uber Cup teams.

Indonesia failed to retain the women's Uber Cup title last Saturday after losing 1-4 to China.

Doubles specialist Rexy said the lackluster welcome did not bother him at all.

"I'm not disappointed with the way the public has received us. I fully understand that it had something to do with the recent events here," Rexy said as quoted by Antara.

"How can we expect them to come out and join a victory celebration with us just after they lost some of their family or relatives," he added.

Riots and looting shook the capital city and its satellite towns of Tangerang, Depok and Bekasi a day after four Trisakti University students were shot dead May 12 in a rally demanding economic and political reforms.

The following riots left 500 people dead.

The parade followed a meeting with President B.J. Habibie at his Bina Graha office. Habibie thanked the players, praising them for their superb performance despite the political tension at home.

Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Haryono Suyono, State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono, Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung, chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) Subagyo Hadisiswoyo and chairman of the National Sports Council Wismoyo Arismunandar were present at the presidential reception.

During the parade, members of the Thomas Cup squad and manager Agus Wirahadikusumah led the pack in an open van with the coveted trophy in their hands.

Two buses carrying the Uber Cup squad and other team officials followed. Dozens of motorcyclists on Harley Davidsons flanked the badminton squads.

Traffic police facilitated the passage of the procession. It took them only half an hour to finish the parade.

A traditional music performance, Gambang Kromong, and a pair of giant puppets, ondel-ondel, greeted the troupe at the gate of City Hall.

A throng of junior high school students and municipality employees came up to see the badminton heroes and heroines face to face. Some of them asked if players would be in photographs taken of them.

The deputy governor in charge of people's welfare, Djaelani, received the badminton squads on behalf of Governor Sutiyoso, who is now in Japan. (emf/prb)