Wismoyo promises Rp 50m bonus for Asiad gold winners

JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar offered on Wednesday a Rp 50 million cash bonus to the Indonesian winner of each gold medal taken in the upcoming Asian Games.

Wismoyo said the promise was intended to motivate national athletes to fight it out for excellence in the continent's sporting event to be held in Bangkok from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20.

"We have to appreciate our athletes' hard work. They deserve rewards, although we will further discuss the proper amount," he told reporters after attending a gathering of Asiad-bound athletes.

The former Army chief of staff said he would raise funds from businesspeople to provide the bonuses.

"Many businesspeople are still interested in offering financial aid to the council despite the fact that they are suffering from the monetary crisis," Wismoyo said.

Cash rewards have virtually become a mandatory gift for medal- winning athletes, even in national level competition. The badminton men's double team of Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky shared a record Rp 1 billion in cash after winning Indonesia's lone gold medal in the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

The council has complained about a lack of funds to cover air tickets for the national contingent traveling to Bangkok. A KONI budget official, Sudharno, said Monday the transportation expenses would cost the council no less than Rp 5 billion.

Association of Indonesian Wood Panel Producers (Apkindo) chairman Abbas Adhar confirmed on Wednesday the forestry related organization would donate Rp 2 billion to the council.

Abbas, claiming that Apkindo's members were among the few businesspeople who had managed to make profits during the crisis, said the association was concerned about national sports development.

"We will provide the money to enable national athletes to compete in the Asiad. It would be shameful if they couldn't compete just because of the crisis," said Abbas.

Apkindo will hand over the donation to Wismoyo on Friday.

Wismoyo said the council had set a target of winning six golds, 11 silvers and 13 bronzes from 19 sports Indonesia planned to compete in during the Asiad.

Badminton, which gave Indonesia three golds in the previous games in Hiroshima, Japan, four years ago, is expected to yield at least two golds, with tennis, karate, boxing and tae kwon do expected to contribute one gold apiece.

Christian Hadinata, director of the Indonesian badminton training center, said that the two golds, out of seven on offer, would likely come from the men's team and the men's doubles.

"However we still have other chances in the mixed doubles, men's singles and women's singles. It will be Susi's (Susanti) special mission since she never won a gold in the Asiad," he said.

Christian had said earlier this month that his squad could land four golds.

Candra Wijaya, the partner of Sigit Budiarto, said he was upbeat that an all-Indonesian final in the men's doubles was possible.

"We hope we will meet Ricky and Rexy in the final. So far, we both are the best pairs in the world," said Candra, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Wednesday.

Candra said his world champion teammate Sigit would be ready in time for the games after being hospitalized last week for typhoid.

"He never skips training sessions, and two months are enough for us to prepare ourselves," Chandra said.

Men's tennis doubles specialist Sulistyo Wibowo said he doubted that the national tennis team could take home any golds because of a lack of recent international competition experience.

"If we only play simulation matches at home, we can't handle the mental pressure during the Asiad. Sparring with your own partner is not enough," said Sulistyo, who will team up with Bonit Wiryawan in doubles in the Asiad.

The men's tennis team will play their final warmup in the Asia Oceania second playoff match against China later this month. (yan/gis)