Yayuk, Utut named the year's best
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)