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.