Olympic winners vow to maintain winning streak

Olympic winners vow to maintain winning streak

JAKARTA (JP): Olympic badminton men's doubles champions Ricky
Subagja and Rexy Mainaky returned home in joyful fashion
yesterday, but refused to rest on their laurels.

Despite their Olympic gold medal and all the major titles they
have won, the world number one pair pledge to step up their
efforts for more victories.

"We have gained what anybody else would dream of, but a
Southeast Asian Games gold medal would provide our career with a
silver lining," Rexy said after the Indonesian team's arrival
from Atlanta yesterday.

Rexy and Ricky won most titles in 1995, including the world
championships, the All-England and the Grand Prix finals, but a
SEA Games gold medal eluded them when they fell to Malaysia's
Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock in Chiang Mai.

Indonesia did not win the men's doubles crown in either of the
last two SEA Games in 1993 and 1995. On both occasions they lost
to Malaysian pairs.

Rexy has fixed the date for his marriage with Henny Saijati
for Oct. 19, but said that his plan would not affect the
partnership's performances in the future.

Women's singles bronze medalist Susi Susanti will marry Alan
Budikusuma in February next year, but brushed aside worries that
her new life would affect her career.

"I will keep playing for the next one or two years. It will be
an honor to represent Indonesia in the 1998 Asian Games," Susi
said.

Badminton players, who earned Indonesia all its medals in
Atlanta; a gold, a silver and two bronzes, will have only a brief
rest as most of their sights are set on the season's remaining
tournaments.

The next events are the Malaysia Open from Aug. 21 to 25 and
the Indonesia Open in Medan, North Sumatra a week later.

But for light middleweight boxer Hendrik Simangunsong, the
Olympics ended his international career. "I will retire after the
National Games next month. It's time for me to pay more attention
to my family," he said.

"I'm going to get a permanent job. No more boxing," added
Hendrik, who was knocked out in the second round in Atlanta.

Rousing welcome

Elsewhere in Johannesburg, South Africa's historic Olympic
team was treated to a rousing welcome home Tuesday by a crowd of
2,000 singing supporters at Johannesburg's International Airport.

The team, which won three golds, and was the first from South
Africa to have black medalists among its ranks, was given loud
cheers from an ecstatic multiracial throng here, AFP reported.

The biggest cheers were reserved for swimmer Penny Heyns, who
won double gold in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, and marathon
winner Josiah Thugwane, who on Sunday became the country's first-
ever black gold medalist, several days after fellow runner
Hezekiel Sepeng's silver medal in the 800m.

The Nigerian government had also planned a grand reception
yesterday in Abuja, the nation's capital, for the country's
contingent which brought home two golds, one silver and three
bronzes from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

The contingent were to be greeted on arrival at the Abuja
international airport by the Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory and a member of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC),
General Jerry Useni, officials said.

The team would then be formally received by the head of state,
General Sani Abacha, members of the PRC, ministers and state
military administrators at a grand ceremony at the national
parade ground in Abuja.

Athens also threw a big party on Tuesday, with marching bands
and fireworks, to welcome its eight Atlanta Olympic medalists who
were cheered by thousands in a triumphal tour of the city,
Reuters reported.

A flag-waving crowd lined the streets from the airport to
central Athens to honor the athletes who were driven in military
jeeps, proudly displaying their four gold and four silver medals.

Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos awarded the athletes the
city's gold medal at Hadrian's Arch, Athens' main ancient gate.
(yan/amd)