Susi chosen best athlete by Gillette

JAKARTA (JP): Former world number one women's badminton player Susi Susanti was chosen by the Gillete company Thursday as Indonesia's best athlete.

Susi beat bodybuilder Ade Rai and tennis player Yayuk Basuki for the title.

Susi now carries the honorary title of Gillette World Champion of Indonesia.

Susi received a plaque and money while Ade and Yayuk received certificates and money.

The Gillette World Champions Indonesia award is offered in addition to the Gillette World Champions competition, which is being contested by athletes from Brazil, Panama, Turkey, the Philippines, Canada and Indonesia.

Ade was the only athlete to receive the certificate as Susi and Yayuk were absent.

Susi was in her home town of Tasikmalaya, West Java, visiting a sick friend while Yayuk was competing in the French Open in Paris.

Yayuk is Indonesia's number one women's tennis player. She has competed in many international tournaments and is ranked 24th in the world. She is married to her coach Suharyadi.

More than half of the 3,000 votes organizers received were for Susi.

Susi, who recently married Alan Budikusuma, is the 1993 world champion and a gold medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Ade said he was not disappointed at not winning.

"I am not at all disappointed at not being chosen since the choice comes from the people," he said

Ade is a bodybuilder who won the 1995 Southeast Asia bodybuilding championship in Singapore. He received the Best of the Best Muscle Mania award at Redondo Beach, California, in 1996 and coaches youth bodybuilders.

Susi, Ade and Yayuk were selected by the Indonesian Sportswriters Association from a list of 12 athletes.

Susi, Ade and Yayuk all conducted social activities from March to May, including each presenting Rp 5 million from Gillette to social foundations.

Ade presented Rp 5 million to Pamardisiwi, a foundation for delinquent children and narcotic users, Susi presented Rp 5 million to the Pondok Si Boncel in Pasar Minggu, a foundation for nursing children and Yayuk presented Rp 5 million to the Darul Aitam orphanage in Ciputat.

Ade visited two high schools and supermarkets at Citraland and Green Garden. (lnt)