PASI awards Rp 197.25m in cash bonuses
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI) handed over Rp 197.25 million (US$29,200) in cash bonuses to the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games' medalists and coaches in a modest ceremony at the Senayan Madya Stadium on Tuesday.
PASI Head of Provincial Development Kunarto represented the associations's chairman Muhammad Bob Hasan in the handover ceremony.
Indonesia managed to only win five golds, 11 silvers and three bronze medals.
Supriati Sutono, winner of two golds in the women's 1,500 and 5,000 meters, received a total bonus of Rp 25 million. Irene Truitje Joseph, winner of the gold in the women's 100m and three silvers in the 200m, 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay, received Rp 21.25 million.
Pole vaulter Nunung Jayadi received Rp 17.5 million for his gold medal and the Games' record breaking vault of 5.05 meters. Javelin thrower Ponsianus Kahol got Rp 12.5 million for his gold.
Supriati's coach Nicky Pattiasina brought home Rp 16 million, Irene's coach Pieter Noya and Nunung's coach Hadi Wacono each took Rp 8.75 million while Ponsianus's coach Celcius Gebze received Rp 6.25 million.
"PASI officials hope the cash bonuses will boost our athletes' motivation to perform better in the future. Those who have performed well are expected to keep improving to reach world class standards," Kunarto said.
PASI Secretary-General Barmawi Chaidir said that athletes would have to work hard to improve their results in the next Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2001.
"Since 1987, when we brought home 17 golds, our track and field athletes have never achieved such incredible results. PASI has vowed to improve the athletes form for the 2001 Games," he said.
In the 1997 Games, Indonesian athletes medal tally was eight golds, eight silvers and 13 bronzes compared to Malaysia with 16 golds, seven silvers and five bronzes and Thailand with 15 golds, 19 silvers and seven bronzes.
Chaidir said PASI still had a chance to qualify its athletes for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. So far, only Irene has qualified for the Olympics in the B category.
"PASI hopes Supriati, Nunung, female long jumper Nyoman Rae Trisandiana, marathon runner Ruwiyati and male sprinter John Murray will qualify for the Olympics. They still have until next September to qualify," he said, adding that they would compete in national and international tournaments.
However, Chaidir emphasized that PASI could not guarantee even a slight chance that its athletes would win a medal in the Olympics.
"We can only hope that one of our athletes would reach the top 16 in the Olympics, as Purnomo and Mardi Lestari did in the 1980s."
Chaidir said PASI had yet to decide when Irene would be sent for long-term overseas training in the United States saying that the organization has yet to get sponsorship.
Speaking on the procedure for the nomination of PASI chairman, both Kunarto and Chaidir said PASI provincial branches are allowed to name their candidates as long as he or she could provide a Rp 4 billion annual budget for PASI routine expenses.
"Pak Bob has told me that he is tired of chairing this organization because he has chaired it since 1979. But he can't do anything if nobody wants to take over his post," Kunarto said. (yan)