Try reveals main factors in progress of RI sports

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's progress in sports depends on the availability of talent, patrons and coaches, Vice President Try Sutrisno said at the 11th anniversary of the National Sports Day (Haornas) at Maesa stadium, Tondano, North Sulawesi.

During the closing ceremony, Try also distributed awards from the government to those whom the country owes its progress in sports and also to provinces and institutes which have contributed the most to promoting sports.

The national sports day is held every year to commemorate the first National Games (PON) held on Sept. 9, 1948 at the Sriwedari stadium in Surakarta, Central Java. However, the government first settled on Sept. 9 as the National Sports Day in 1983.

The Games were organized only three years after Indonesia's independence. The theme for this year's celebration of the Games is "with sports, we improve the quality of our human resources and increase our national pride," Antara reported.

At the celebration, Try presented awards to all 18 members of the Thomas and Uber Cup badminton teams, including men's world number one, two and three - Joko Suprianto, Heriyanto Arbi and Ardy Wiranata - and women's world number one and 1992 Olympic gold medalist Susi Susanti.

Indonesia won both of badminton's most prestigious team honors last May in Jakarta.

Try also awarded five patrons, including chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) Surjadi, patron of sports for the disabled Hadi Soetomo, patron for national volleyball development Soeharsono and patrons of National Sport Harsuki MA and Aburizal Bakrie.

Coaches who were awarded on the occasion included cycling coach Wahyu Hidayat and three referees, Hasan Maksum (archery), Asmizar Adam (sepak takraw) and Jouce Patirajawane (volleyball).

In addition, four provinces - Yogyakarta, South Sumatra, East Kalimantan and North Sulawesi - also got awards from Try.

Other awards went to state-run teaching institutes IKIP Semarang, Central Java, IKIP Bandung, West Java, IKIP Padang, West Sumatra and the Hasanuddin University of Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

Coca-Cola Ltd., the sponsor of the under-15 national soccer championship held in conjunction of the Haornas, also shared one of the awards.

Prior to the closing of the celebration, East Java's soccer team notched a 2-1 victory over Aceh and won the Coke-Cup trophy. (arf)