Winning Thomas Cup shuttlers receive state reception

Winning Thomas Cup shuttlers receive state reception

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Members of the men's Thomas Cup badminton team were received
like visiting heads of states when they paid a courtesy call on
President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday.

Accompanied by Chairman of the Badminton Association of
Indonesia (PBSI) Chairul Tanjung, the team were treated royally
when the President received them at Merdeka Palace.

The exceptional reception is related to their exceptional feat
at becoming the first team to hold the cup five times in a row.
In total, Indonesia has achieved 13 victories out of 22 contests.

Trailing 1-2, Indonesia defeated arch-enemy Malaysia 3-2 in a
tense final match last Sunday in Guangzhou, China.

Singles shuttler Hendrawan, who broke the 2-2 tie to ensure
Indonesia's victory, brought the coveted Cup and presented it to
Megawati.

"I was quite tired when I got the news that we had won the
Thomas Cup. It was such a good thing as I always pray for the
team's victory," she said.

"I kept wandering at the podium in Dili whether we could win
it again or not, but we finally made it."

Megawati was in Dili last Sunday to attend East Timor's
independence ceremony. The Thomas Cup final took place on the
same day.

"I was feeling down when our women's Uber Cup team failed to
reach the semifinals."

Also present at the ceremony were Minister of Trade and
Industry Rini Suwandi, Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar,
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno and Minister of Manpower
and Transmigration Jacob Nuwawea.

The ceremony at Merdeka Palace was followed by a luncheon at
the nearby State Palace.

The shuttlers then paid another courtesy call to Governor
Sutiyoso at City Hall before hitting the city's thoroughfare in a
merry parade.

At City Hall, the shuttlers got a livelier reception than the
formal one at Merdeka Palace.

High ranking officials, city employees and badminton
enthusiasts packed City Hall's terraces to wait for their
sporting heroes to arrive. They broke out in applause when the
team arrived.

Some of them even took photographs and asked for the
shuttlers' autographs.

Sutiyoso said that he was gripped by the exciting situation
especially when second singles Taufik Hidayat received
controversial treatment from umpire Nahathai Sornprachum of
Thailand.

"I threw down my drinking glass when Taufik threw his racquet
in disappointment at the umpire's decision," he told the
shuttlers.

"But Alhamdulillah (praise to God) that we could win and
defend the Cup."

After their brief visit to City Hall, the shuttlers then hit
the road riding on the back of a number of utility vehicles.

Motorists from City Transportation Agency and City Public
Order Agency also took part in the parade, as well as Harley
Davidson and Vespa riders. There were also a number of classic
cars in the parade.

The Cup was placed on a Land Rover with Hendrawan and doubles
shuttler Sigit Budiarto aboard.