TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Zainudin Amali presented the Satyalancana Dharma sports award to five Indonesian athletes. This award was presented for their accomplishment in International Championship, the Olympics in particular.

The recipients of the award includes Tri Kusharjanto, former badminton player who obtained silver in Sydney Olympic 2000, Bronze in World's 1997 and Thomas Cup Champ in 2002.

Another names who receive the same award are Sonny Dwi Kuncoro and Eng Hian, bronze winner in Athens Olympic 2004, Ni Negah Widiasih, bronze medal in Rio Paralympic 2016 and finally Coni Ruswanta who coached the weight lifting team. The decision to present the award is in accordance with the Presidential Regulation (PP) No. 119/TK/2021.

According to the minister, it's not enough to just encourage them to achieve, rewards must be given to appreciate them. Therefore the president gives his gratitude and asks then to keep improving and keeps the consistency.

Amali also emphasized the current target for Indonesia, aside from either the single or multievent championship such as Asian and SEA Games, is the Olympic and Paralympic, especially as it was decided in PP No. 86/2021 regarding the grand design of national sports (DBON).

The Satyalancana Dharma sports award is given to athletes who won medals in the Olympics, Paralympic or other particular event World's Championships as well as Coaches of Medal winners athletes.

The recipient of the awards has given their reaction regarding this matters, such as Eng Hian who coaches the women's Indonesian team. He said that this is an honor, and hopes it may inspires other to make Indonesia proud.

Former athletes Tri Kusharjanto and Sony Dwi Kuncoro also agreed with Eng's words and said it gives them sparks to helps in producing world's champions for Indonesia.

Read: Minister Says Paralympic Athletes Will Get the Same Appreciation as the Olympics

ANTARA | GRAVEN FIKRI (INTERNSHIP)