Bank Mandiri gives Rp 2b in scholarships

Jakarta: State-owned Bank Mandiri gave Rp 2 billion (US$215,053) in scholarships on Wednesday to 25 track-and-field medalists at the 26th SEA Games.

The scholarships will cover up to five years of study for medalists, most of whom are university students.

Gold medalists will receive Rp 40 million a year; silver medalists, Rp20 million; and bronze medalists, Rp14 million.

“We are proud to see the outcome from track-and-field at the SEA Games, especially since the squad managed to combine gold medals from track’s most prestigious events, the men’s and women’s 100-meter sprint,” Bank Mandiri chief director Zulkifli Zaini said on Wednesday.

At the Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, South Sumatra, the national track and field squad collected the most medals of any nation, bringing home a total 13 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals.

Annelies Serafi Unani, the women’s 100-meter gold medalist said: “I hope to complete my thesis this year. It is my priority. I intend to have no more delays.”

She said she postponed her sixth semester of legal studies at Surabaya University in Surabaya, East Java, to concentrate on the SEA Games last year. After graduation, she said she hope to study legal anthropology for her master’s degree.

“This scholarship will be very useful, because studying at private university is quite expensive,” said the 23-year-old.

“This is the first time for a national state-owned company to provide scholarship for the track and field athletes. These educational scholarships are important for these athletes, after they retire from their athletic careers,” Indonesian Track and Field Association (PASI) chairman Mohammad Bob Hasan said.

Bob expressed hope that Bank Mandiri would continue to support athlete development for years to come.