The recent Indonesian English champions, men’s doubles pair Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, returned to Indonesia on Tuesday (14/03) to thunderous applause.
Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi was readily available at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to welcome the brand new champions. The government gave Kevin and Marcus a 250 million rupiah ($18,700) bonus for his or her win. Coach Herry Iman Pierngadi also received a 100 million rupiah bonus.
“Congratulations. President Jokowi sends his regards to both of you,” the minister told Kevin and Marcus on the airport. Kevin said the pair would give attention to climbing the Badminton International Federation rankings before preparing for the 2018 ASEAN Games.
Indonesian Badminton Federation (PBSI) deputy chairman Lutfi Hamid also praised the pair – the nineteenth Indonesian men’s doubles pair to win the All England – the oldest badminton tournament on the planet.
The men’s doubles victory was Indonesia’s only success on the tournament. China’s Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong won the mixed doubles, South Korean pair Chang Ye-na and Lee So-hee won the ladies’s doubles, Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei won the lads’s singles and Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying won the ladies’s singles.
Source: This article was first published in Globe Jakarta
