T

he country's medalists - 5 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze - at the recently concluded Asian Martial Arts Games (AMAG) will receive cash bonuses for their achievements in Bangkok.

The National Sports Council (KONI) has allocated a total of Rp 475 million (US$48,000) for the 16 medalists.

"Gold medalists will get Rp 50 million each, silver medalists Rp 25 million and bronze medalists 15 million," KONI chairwoman Rita Subowo said Monday during a welcoming ceremony for the athletes in Jakarta.

"The athletes will get their bonuses as of today."

Bonuses for the winning coaches, of Rp 20 million, Rp 15 million and Rp 10 million, are also available, though some coaches said they had not been informed.

"We'll prioritize the distribution to the athletes first," KONI trea-surer Ahmed Solihin told The Jakarta Post.

"However, if the coaches come to us now, we'll hand them their money immediately."

He added he had told deputy head of the contingent, Abdul Rauf, to inform the coaches of the prize.

During the welcoming ceremony at KONI headquarters, Abdul Rauf said the 16 medalists would also receive $1,500 for gold medals, $1,000 for silver medals and $500 for bronze medals.

The money will be handed out by contingent head Awang Farouk Ishak, who is also the governor of East Kalimantan, where some of the 35 fighters underwent training prior to their departure to Bangkok.

Pencak silat coach Indro Catur Haryono insisted he had not received any information about the bonuses for the coaches.

"As a coach, I simply wish to be recognized," he said.

"I don't care about the amount, but such appreciation will motivate us, as coaches, to prepare the athletes better for future competitions."

During the 2008 Asian Beach Games in Bali, the coaches of medal-winning athletes received 25 percent of what the athletes got.

The pencak silat team won four gold and two silver medals.

The gold medalists are Ni Nyoman Suparniti in the women's class D (<60 to 65 kg), I.K.M. Wahyu in the men's class E (<65 to 70 kg), Pujo Janoko in the men's class C (<55 to 60 kg) and Lutfan Budi Santosa in the men's class B (<50 to 55 kg).

Winning silver were Penky Simbar in the women's class A (<45 to 50 kg) and Fitriani Puspa Endah in the women's class E (<65 to 70 kg).

Perry Pantouw, the coach of judo star Kresna Bayu, who won gold in the men's under-100 kg, was also unaware of the bonus for coaches.

"I haven't heard about it," he said.

The Indonesian judo team also won a silver, courtesy of Yuliati in the women's under-52 kg.

The Indonesian Wushu Association's Ngatino was also in the dark.

"All I've heard is that there will be bonuses for the athletes," he said.

"It's also customary for coaches to get something too as a token of appreciation."

The wushu team contributed a silver medal through the pairing of Johanes Bie and Lukman Aldy in the men's duilian combat and two bronze medals from Moria Manalu in the women's sanshou 56 kg and Rahmat Junaidi Sukamto in the men's sanshou 60 kg classes.