Olympics athletes must continue training for 2001 SEAG: Wismoyo
Olympics athletes must continue training for 2001 SEAG: Wismoyo
JAKARTA (JP): Just less than 24 hours after returning home,
members of the Indonesian Olympics squad have been urged to start
concentrating on the upcoming 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in
Kuala Lumpur.
Chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) Wismoyo
Arismunandar reminded athletes and coaches at the farewell
ceremony Tuesday on the ambitious goal of reclaiming the overall
title from arch rival Thailand at the SEA Games.
"Don't stop here. The 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is
awaiting us," he said.
Indonesia -- which sent 47 athletes in 11 sporting events for
the Olympics-- earned one gold, three silvers and two bronzes
from badminton and weightlifting.
Indonesia only finished third at the 1999 SEA Games after
Thailand and Malaysia, its worst performance since the country's
first participation in 1977.
At the occasion, Wismoyo also urged sports organizations to
improve its athletes development programs, starting from talent
scouting, training and competing.
"A proper talent scouting program will help the organizations
pick potential athletes. They then must be trained to become
future champions. The organizations must start right away as we
are going to face the SEA Games. You must set the target now and
you shouldn't wait until two months prior to the event."
Wismoyo also encouraged athletes to increase the competitions
they participated in, especially those abroad, to enrich their
experience.
"Based on the Olympics overall evaluation, we concluded that
our athletes lacked competition. Therefore, athletes must compete
more often," he said, adding that the public, businesspeople and
the government would support the effort to develop sports.
Cash bonus
Gold medalists Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan, in badminton
men's doubles, will receive Rp 500 million (US$56,820) each from
sponsors Extra Joss, an isotonic drink manufacturer.
Silver medalists -- men's singles shuttler Hendrawan and
women's weightlifter Lisa Rumbewas -- will pocket Rp 300 million
each while mixed doubles shuttlers Tri Kusharjanto and Minarti
Timur will earn Rp 200 million each.
Bronze medalists Sri Indriyani and Winarni are to receive Rp
150 million each. Weightlifting coaches, Lukman and Imron Rosadi,
will receive Rp 50 million each.
Wismoyo also announced that he would raise the bonus for
badminton coaches from Rp 300 million to Rp 500 million.
He asked head coach Christian Hadinata on the amount received
he received four years ago in Atlanta -- when Indonesia took one
gold, thanks to Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, one silver and
two bronzes -- and how many coaches were hired for this year's
Olympics.
Just after Christian mentioned seven coaches, Hendrawan
protested, saying: "Pak, you must include physical trainer Paulus
Pesurnay."
Badminton coaches comprise men's singles coaches Agus Dwi
Santoso and Mulyo Handoyo, men's doubles coach Herry Imam
Pierngadi, mixed doubles coach Richard Mainaky, women's singles
coach Leung Chau-ha and women's doubles coach Imelda Wigoeno.
In a sarcastic way, Wismoyo said that other participants who
yielded no medals in the Olympics would get Rp 3 million each.
"The 'Dayaks' will receive Rp 3 million each and they can
collect the money in cash today."
Earlier, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri received the
contingent in her office and congratulated them on their
achievement.
She also urged athletes to continue training and never easily
give up.
"Send my warm regards to your families and don't forget to
keep on training," she said, as quoted by Antara. (ivy)