WHO names tennis star Angie one of its Health Champions

WHO names tennis star Angie one of its Health Champions

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The World Health Organization (WHO) representative office in
Indonesia appointed Indonesia's tennis starlet Angelique Widjaja
on Thursday as its first Health Champion to promote a healthy
lifestyle among young people.

"It is a great opportunity for WHO to cooperate with a young
athlete like Angelique. She is the perfect model for promoting a
healthy lifestyle among young people," WHO representative Dr.
Georg Petersen said in his speech.

The six-month contract was signed during a thanksgiving
ceremony at the Hotel Hilton Executive Club to celebrate her
current success.

Angelique, affectionately known as Angie, won her first major
title at the US$170,000 Wismilak International WTA tournament in
Bali earlier this month. This boosted her WTA ranking from 579 to
153.

Angie has also made history by becoming the first Indonesian
tennis player to grab the Wimbledon's girls singles title.

Petersen told The Jakarta Post that Angie was the first to be
appointed as a Health Champion.

"This is a kind of pilot project launched by the WHO office
here. If it is successful, we will launch a world wide campaign
with more athletes," he said.

"As for Indonesia, we will soon name a male Health Champion
chosen from among young athletes. We have already several
candidates in mind."

Meanwhile, Angie said she was very happy to be named the
Health Champion. Her main duties will include campaigning for a
smoke and drugs free environment.

"I want to be a role model for Indonesian young people to stay
away from smoking and using drugs. It is part of my social
obligation to Indonesian young people to become a volunteer for
WHO," she said.

As for her future tennis career, Angie said she had set a
target of entering the WTA's best 100 rank.

Spokesman for the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti), Benny
Mailili told reporters that Angie would not find it difficult to
reach her target of entering the WTA's best 100 during her tour
next year.

"It should not be difficult because she will take part in 13
WTA tournaments. She doesn't have to be the champion to reach the
target," he said.

"Even reaching semifinals is enough for her to get into the
best 50 ranks. If she can win several tournaments, she should get
into the best 20."

"But Angie will have a difficult task in 2003 because she will
have to maintain her ranking. She should select the tournaments
carefully," he continued.

Benny also said that the WTA had decided to scrap the $110,000
Wismilak WTA Tour to be held in Surabaya later this month due to
security concerns.

"The organizers from Wismilak just told me this morning that
the WTA decided to scrap the event despite security guarantees
from the organizers," he said.

"I also understand that Wismilak and the WTA are still engaged
in negotiations but I don't know about what."

Following the 1998 riots in Jakarta, Wismilak moved its
tournament to Malaysia in 1999 and 2000 before returning home
this year.