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)