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)