Shuttlers, lifter gets IOC scholarships
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rules, they would be withdrawn by the IOC.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)