Medal-winning athletes land bonuses from sports council

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Asian Games medal winners and their coaches received bonuses from by the National Sports Council on Friday.

The rewards cost the council Rp 1.5 billion (US$187,500), with gold medalists pocketing between Rp 30 million and Rp 60 million each, silver medalists receiving between Rp 15 million and Rp 30 million and bronze medalists between Rp 7.5 million and Rp 15 million.

Each coach received half the sum awarded to the victorious athletes.

Only 25 percent of the bonuses were presented in cash -- the rest goes to the medalists in the form of life insurance.

Indonesia won six golds, 10 silvers and 11 bronze medals at the Asiad in Bangkok, which ran from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20.

The council's chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar defended the decision not to provide the rewards in cash. "We chose life insurance in order to protect the athletes' futures," he said.

The athletes' bonanza is not yet over because on Friday the Association of Indonesian Wood Panel Producers (Apkindo) promised to provide the athletes with a further Rp 500 million. The association gave the sports council an Rp 3 billion donation prior to the games.

"We will raise the plan before our executive meeting on Tuesday, hopefully it will be approved. We will let the council decide on the share received by each athlete," said Apkindo secretary-general Kristiono.

Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, who teamed up to win the men's doubles in badminton, topped the earnings list after each collecting Rp 75 million. Both earned Rp 30 million for their parts in securing victory in the men's team event and received a further Rp 45 million for their gold medal in the doubles event.

Female middle-distance runner Supriati Sutono, tennis star Yayuk Basuki, male windsurfer Oka Sulaksana and male karateka Arief Taufan Syamsuddin each received Rp 60 million for winning gold medals.

Hendrawan also collected Rp 60 million after leading the national men's badminton team to the gold medal and finishing second in the individual men's singles.

Taekwondo athlete Satrio Rahardani, rower Lasmin, karatekas Omita Olga Ompi and Sandra Ariyani, and boxers Hermensen Ballo and Willem Papilaya each bagged Rp 30 million for taking silver medals in their respective disciplines.

The athletes also received financial bonuses from their respective sports federations. Supriati, for example, was given Rp 100 million by the Indonesian Amateur Track and Field Association. (yan)