T

he National Sports Day celebration was marked by an award presentation to past and current athletes in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Fourteen national athletes received awards for their outstanding achievements, while 180 of the country's young talents were assured of financial support in the form of year-long scholarships.

Indonesian judo athlete Kresna Bayu, who won a gold medal at the recent Asian Martial Arts Games (AMAG) in Thailand, said he was honored to receive the Parama Krida award from the Office of the State Ministry for Sports and Youth Affairs.

He added he was looking for-ward to contributing more at the upcoming SEA Games in Laos in December.

"I hope to end my career with a great performance in next SEA Games by adding to my medal collection," said the 34-year-old, who had to be content with silver in the two previous SEA Games in Thailand and the Philippines.

"After retiring, I want to become a coach. I want to help young fighters turn themselves into strong athletes," added Bayu, whose medal collection includes six straight SEA Games gold from 1993 to 2003.

Six other sportsmen and women honored at Tuesday's event included powerlifters Noviana Sari, a gold medalist at the World Championships in the US, and Sri Hartati, who won bronze at the same event; race driver Rio Haryanto, who became first Indonesian to win the 2008 Renault Asian Formula in China; tennis player Christopher Benyamin Rungkat, who won silver and bronze at the 2007 SEA Games; and billiards players Angeline M. Ticoalu, who won gold and silver at the 2007 SEA Games, and Ricky Yang, who won the Philippine Open International in Cebu, this year.

Five badminton players - Markis Kido, Hendra Setiawan, Liliyana Natsir, Nova Widianto and Maria Kristin - received the Satyalancana Wira Karya Presidential Award along with weightlifters and Thailand SEA Games gold medalists Eko Yuli Irawan and Triyatno.

Besides one-year scholarships for 180 young athletes entitled to financial aid ranging from Rp 2,400,000 for elementary school students to Rp 10 million for university students, the ministry also gave away Rp 100 million each to 100 athletes who contributed at least one gold medal each in SEA Games.

Coaches, referees, trainers, masseurs, psychologists and journalists were also rewarded for their work.