Jakarta. Sport climber Veddriq Leonardo and weightlifter Rizki Juniansyah will receive Rp 6 billion ($382,561) each as a reward from the government for winning gold medals at the Paris Olympics, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said on Thursday.

Gregoria Mariska Tunjung, who won the bronze medal in badminton women’s singles in Paris, will get Rp 1.65 billion ($105,184) transferred to her account.

"On behalf of the Indonesian people, allow me to express my utmost gratitude and appreciation to all athletes who have worked hard during the Paris Olympics and brought pride to this nation," the president said when receiving members of the Indonesian Olympic contingent at the State Palace in Jakarta.

"Athletes who didn’t win a medal will get Rp 250 million each as appreciation from the government. May these bonuses further motivate you to increase achievements and bring pride to the nation on the global stage." 

Coaches for gold medalists will receive Rp 2.75 billion ($175,227) each while Gregoria’s coach will get Rp 675 million ($43,000), the president said.

Paris is the first Olympics where Indonesia won gold medals in sports other than badminton. It’s also Indonesia’s first time to win more than a gold medal since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics where badminton debuted as a medal event.

"These achievements didn’t come instantly. It’s preluded by a very long process of identifying talents and implementing long-term and continued training programs,” Jokowi said.
 

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