Jakarta, Aug 31, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesian shuttlers Tantowi Ahmad and
Liliyana Natsir who secured a gold medal for their country at the 2016
Rio Olympics were given a heroes' welcome on arrival.
They have made the Indonesian people proud by winning the gold medal
for the country on the day when the nation celebrated the 71st
anniversary of independence.
Moreover, the gold medal came from badminton, which is the most popular
sport in the nation, with a population of over 250 million.
Tontowi, popularly known as Owi, his partner, Liliyana alias Butet,
defeated the Malaysian pair Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying in the
badminton mixed doubles final in straight games, 21-14, 21-12, in Rio de
Janeiro, on August 17, 2016.
"I am thankful to Allah SWT. This is the most beautiful gift to us and
all Indonesian people on the occasion of Independence Day. Thank you for
all the support," Owi noted.
"Playing on Independence Day, in fact, boosted our energy and spirits to deliver our best," Butet remarked.
Butet and Owi had worked hard to realize their dream and were the world
champions in 2013 and the All England champions for three consecutive
years in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Crowds
of well-wishers gathered to greet the duo when they joined a parade
along the main streets of Jakarta recently as well as on arrival in
their hometowns.
Aboard
an open-top bus called the Bandros, Butet and Owi, accompanied by
Indonesian Olympic silver medalist weightlifters Eko Yuli Irawan and Sri
Wahyuni, waved out to the crowds that welcomed them with small national
flags along the streets of Jakarta.
The
athletes departed from the Youth and Sports Ministry's Office and were
escorted by police vehicles and several Harley Davidson bikes cruising
along the General Sudirman Street and MH Thamrin Street before arriving
at the Presidential Palace to meet the head of state.
Indonesia
closed the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil at 46th rank, with one gold
from badminton and two silver medals from weightlifting.
The government has promised huge cash prizes to Indonesian athletes who won medals at the 2016 Olympics.
Owi and Butet will each be given a cash bonus of Rp5 billion (roughly
US$380 thousand) for bringing home a gold medal from the Olympics.
The Indonesian Badminton Association has also vowed to give them bonuses.
Meanwhile,
the weightlifters will each be offered a cash bonus of Rp2 billion
(roughly $150 thousand) for the silver medals.
Moreover, the Indonesian Weightlifting and Body Building Association will give a house to each silver medalist.
The government has also promised Olympic medal winners a monthly
lifetime allowance starting from Rp20 million for the gold medalist,
Rp15 million for the silver medalist, and Rp10 million for the bronze
medalist.
On returning to her hometown in Manado, North
Sulawesi, Butet once again received a hero's welcome from local
well-wishers and officials.
The governor of North Sulawesi has awarded a house to Butet for her achievement.
Born
in Manado, on September 19, 1985, Butet was taken across the city in a
parade upon her arrival at the local Ratulangi airport, Manado, where
scores of supporters had lined up to welcome her.
Butet was taken around in a parade along several of the city's main
streets, including Walanda Maramis, Martadinata, and Lumintut.
Along the way, there were screams from several community members who
were waiting to welcome Butet by calling out her name.
Mecky Onibala, one of the well-wishers, expressed pride on Butet's achievement, which he termed as extraordinary.
Another supporter Jhon said he had specially come to the airport to
welcome Butet and personally see the champion who had helped boost
Indonesia's reputation at the international level.
Butet was the world champion in 2005, 2007, and 2013 and the Asian champion in 2006 and 2015.
Meanwhile, Owi and his family decided to spend their holidays in
Jepara, Central Java, and stay in a beach-view hotel belonging to his
father-in-law.
Upon his arrival in Jepara, Owi was welcomed by Jepara District Head
Ahmad Marzuki on Aug. 29. Owi was born in Banyumas, also in Central Java
Province, on July 18, 1987.
Marzuki expressed gratitude to Owi
for the gold medal and hoped that his extraordinary achievement would
inspire and motivate scores of young shuttlers in Jepara.
From Jepara, he planned to visit Kudus, where his sponsor for
participation in the Olympics, cigarette company PT Djarum, had planned
to organize a parade around the town for Owi.
Owi, who had first learnt badminton from his father as a child, won the
world championship in 2013 and the Asian championship in 2015 as well
as bagged two gold medals in the 2011 SEA Games.
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EDITED BY INE
(T.F001/A/BESSR/O. Tamindael) 31-08-2016 14:02:10
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