Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government of Indonesia has provided a total of Rp210 billion in bonuses for local athletes and coaches taking part in the 2018 Asian Games.

"The government also provides Rp20 million to each athlete who did not win a medal in the Asian Games," Youth and Sport Minister Imam Nahrawi said here on Sunday.

He made the statement during friendly gathering with national athletes and coaches and presentation of the bonus.

The bonuses come from the expenditure budget of the State General Treasury. The bonuses have been disbursed among athletes, coaches and assistant coaches.

Each individual gold medalist competing in a singles event receives Rp1.5 billion, Rp1 billion in doubles event and Rp750 million in team events.

Meanwhile, each individual silver and bronze medalist competing in a singles event receives Rp500 million and Rp250 million, in doubles event Rp400 million and Rp200 million and in team events Rp300 million and Rp150 million respectively.

Coaches of gold, silver and bronze medalists receive Rp450 million, Rp150 million, and Rp75 million respectively.

Assistant coaches of gold, silver and bronze medalist get Rp300 million, Rp100 million, and Rp50 million each.

"Today, the government disburses the bonus to athletes, coaches and assistant coaches," the minister said.

The Youth and Sport Ministry also offers athletes to become civil servants.

President Joko Widodo earlier presented a bonus to athletes and their coaches, who have successfully won medals in the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang at the State Palace here on Sunday or the final day of the event.

"Thank you for the history you have written. In view of the achievement I told the sports minister yesterday that I myself would hand over the bonus before the event is closed," he told national athletes, officials, and coaches who gathered at the palace for the presentation of the bonus.

Indonesia won 31 gold, 24 silver and 43 bronze medals or totally 98 medals from the four-yearly event to rank fourth after China, Japan, and South Korea.

President Joko Widodo admitted that the government had only set the target of gold medal collection at 16.

"(Although it was not too high) many had expressed doubt, pessimism that it would be achieved. So, I came again and again to the vice president to ask if the target was right or should we review it."

"We may be optimistic but we must also be realistic. However some others had even said that it must be increased four more models. While a target of 16 gold medals was enough to make us anxious they even asked for more. However, today, it was proven they were right. We won 98 medals consisting of gold, silver and bronze medals from across the sport branches," he said.

President Joko Widodo said the achievement was a big one that must be used as the foundation for achieveing future targets.

President Joko Widodo symbolically handed over the bonus in the form of savings account books to Eko Yuli Irawan (weightlifting), Puspa Arum Sari (pencak silat), Aries Susanti Rahayu (sport climbing) representing gold medalists, Sri Wahyuni (weightlifting), Aspar (sport climbing), Alexander Elbert Sie (soft tennis) representing silver medalists and Nining Purwaningsih (downhill cycling race), Amri Rusdana (pencak silat) and Bunga Imas (skateboard) representing bronze medalists.



Reporting by Desca Lidya
Editing by Azis Kurmala, Suharto



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(UU.A063/A/A063/S012) 02-09-2018 17:35:50

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