Siti Hardiyanti inducted as new volleyball leader
Siti Hardiyanti inducted as new volleyball leader
JAKARTA (JP): Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana was sworn in yesterday
as the new chairperson of the Indonesian Volleyball Association,
with a pledge to restore the country's pride in the sport.
The induction ended three weeks of uncertainty about her
acceptance of the post. The association last month agreed to name
Siti Hardiyanti the single elector and the chairperson in a
congress. The president's daughter, who was abroad at the time,
did not even give an official nod.
Yesterday's inauguration was such a dramatic answer to
speculation that almost all top sports officials flocked to the
National Sports Council office to attend the special ceremony.
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman,
Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen. Wiranto in his capacity as
chairman of the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association, Jakarta
Police chief Maj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo, were among the guests.
Dibyo was appointed vice chairman of the volleyball body which
now has a total of 22 portfolio posts. Former chairman Kunarto
will lead the board of patrons, who also include Siti
Hardiyanti's husband Indra Rukmana.
A throng of journalists, who had been frustrated in their
quest for a scoop about the association's new cabinet, grilled
Siti Hardiyanti as soon as she was swore in by chairman of the
council Wismoyo Arismunandar.
Wearing her trade-mark headscarf, the new chairman ushered the
enthusiastic journalists into the press conference room.
"Thank you so much for trusting me to carry out this tough
job. Despite my whopping business activities, I promise to do my
best," Siti Hardiyanti, who is President Soeharto's eldest
daughter, said.
"I don't want to disappoint those who showed me their
tremendous support during the congress. They could have given me
some slaps if I had said no, you know," she said of her approval
of the new job.
Restoration
Siti Hardiyanti said that during her four-year tenure the
association would concentrate on revamping Indonesia's
performance in international level.
"We have set our sights not only on regaining our supremacy in
the Southeast Asian Games, but also on winning every tournament
we compete in," she said.
Indonesia ended its SEA Games unbeaten run in Chiang Mai,
Thailand last December. The national men's spikers had to be
content with a bronze, while their women's teammates left the
Games empty handed.
The new chairperson said that she planned to revive regular
competitions among school children as well as other junior age
levels. "We need to intensify the campaign to make volleyball a
sport for all," she said.
Siti Hardiyanti also pledged to run the organization on the
principle of professionalism. "I cannot handle all the work
myself. I shall pick people who know what they are doing to help
me," she said.
Her day-to-day duties will be carried out by executive
chairman Rita Subowo.
Minister Hayono lauded the new line-up of the volleyball body,
saying that the Siti Hardiyanti-led staff have a good chance to
take Indonesia's achievement to a new high.
"Other sports organizations should follow in the footsteps of
the volleyball association in choosing the right leader," Hayono
said. (05/amd)