Yayuk, Utut named the year's best

JAKARTA (JP): Tennis queen Yayuk Basuki and chess wizard Utut Adianto were elected Indonesia's sportswoman and sportsman of 1995 by the Jakarta-based Sports Journalists Association yesterday.

The voters were 35 journalists, each representing an Indonesian publication, and 17 sports observers. Yayuk, whose successes included upsetting then world number seven Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina in a Fed Cup match last year, was favored by 30 voters.

It was Yayuk's fourth award after winning in 1986, 1990 and 1991. She edged strong contender badminton queen Susi Susanti and women's cyclist Nurhayati.

"It's a little bit of a surprise, I even don't know what to say," Yayuk said on the podium after the award presentation.

Yayuk, who will lead the country's Fed Cup team in a Group One first-round tie against Belgium, tomorrow, received Rp 4 million (US$1,739). Utut received the same amount.

This is the first year cash prizes have been presented in the 21-year-old competition.

Utut, Indonesia's number one grandmaster, got 23 votes. Virtually no other male athletes could match him when world-class standards are used to measure performances.

Utut, the first Indonesian to reach the super grandmaster's elo rating of 2,600, is currently playing in the Cakti chess invitational tournament in Madras, India.

The association also elected Ismail Budiman and Yon Daryono as the coaches of the year. Budiman coaches the Indonesian rowing team, which was also elected the team of the year.

Budiman led his team to sweep all seven gold medals at stake in the traditional boat races at the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand last year. His team also came out victorious at various international regattas in China, Hong Kong and Australia.

Yon, dubbed Indonesia's carbon copy of China's Ma Junren, trains exceptionally good long-distance runners Ruwiyati, silver medalist at the Asian track and field championship last year, and Rumini Sudragni.

Utut's patron, businessman Eka Putra Wirya, was elected the prime mover. He inspires Utut and motivates him to achieve his present masterful performances.

The favorite athlete of the year award went to women's judoka Aprilia Marzuki, a gold medalist in the Chiang Mai SEA Games. (arf/amd)