Shuttlers, lifter gets IOC scholarships
JAKARTA (JP): Three badminton players and one weightlifter have been awarded two-year International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Solidarity Scholarships.
The National Sports Council announced on Thursday that the 1997 men's doubles world champions Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, women's doubles specialist Deyana Lomban and junior world champion weightlifter Sri Indriyani had won the scholarships.
Another badminton player, men's singles player Taufik Hidayat who won the 1998 Brunei Open, received a scholarship awarded to young athletes with good potential.
Boxing coach Wim Gomies, who is currently in Cuba preparing the national boxing squad for the upcoming 13th Asian Games, received a coaching scholarship. Wim won gold medals at the 1970 and 1978 Asian Games.
The athletes' scholarships are only awarded to those deemed to have a chance of qualifying for the 2000 Olympics.
Each athlete will receive US$1,200 a month from Sept. 1, 1998, to Aug. 31, 2000. The money covers the cost of a coach, medical care, access to top class training facilities, accident insurance and an allowance.
Muchamad Muslimin from the sports council said the IOC gave notice of the awards on Sept. 9 through a letter signed by Pamela Vipond, who manges the scholarship scheme.
As a condition of the awards, the athletes must observe good sporting etiquette and training center rules. They must also approach their respective training programs with dedication and discipline.
Candra said he was optimistic that he would meet the requirements and go on to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
"My main ambition is not to qualify for the Olympics but to win an Olympic gold," he said optimistically.
Taufik, a newcomer to the upper echelons of badminton, said his personal target was to be included in Indonesia's squad for the 2000 Olympics.
Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar urged the athletes to use their scholarships responsibly because if they broke the rules, they would be withdrawn by the IOC. (yan)