Medal-winning athletes land bonuses from sports council
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)