Bank Mandiri gives Rp 2b scholarship to 25 athletes
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 01/11/2012 9:03 PM
State-owned lender Bank Mandiri handed over scholarships on Wednesday worth Rp 2 billion (US$217,627) to 25 track-and-field athletes who excelled in the 2011 SEA Games.
Bank Mandiri president director Zulkifli Zaini said the scholarships were aimed at helping those athletes so that they could develop their talents and become capable of achieving even better performances.
“Indonesia has the seeds of brilliant athletes in athletics,” he said as quoted by tribunnews.com, adding that the athletes needed to hone both their skills and education so that they could perform better at the international level.
Zulkifli said the scholarships were being awarded to the medal-winning athletes until they graduated, or for a maximum of five years. The amount of each scholarship depended on the achievement of each athlete.
Each year, athletes winning gold medals receive Rp 40 million; silver medalists receive Rp 20 million; and bronze medalists receive Rp 14 million.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) chairman, Bob Hasan, conveyed his appreciation for the government’s interests in track-and-field.
“The scholarships can encourage the athletes to keep performing well and become more professional,” he said.
“The support will also bring mutual benefits to both Bank Mandiri and PASI.” (drs)
