She was paraded across the city upon her arrival at the local Ratulangi airport at 2pm aboard a Batik Air plane from Jakarta where a lot of people had been waiting for her for a long time.
Lilyana Natsir won the only gold medal for the country along with Tantowi Achmad from a badminton mixed doubles event in the recent Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Several members of the regional board of the Indonesian Badminton Association and regional administration were among those who welcomed her. These included the chief of the PBSI North Sulawesi chapter, Jendry Keintjem, secretary of the regional administration, Rachmat Mokodongan and head of the regional sports affairs, Mecky Onibala.
Lilayana was taken around in a parade along several of the city's main streets, including Walanda Maramis, Martadinata and Lumintut streets, from the airport.
Along the way, community members welcomed her with many shouting her name.
Mecky Onibala said he was proud of her achievement which he termed extraordinary.
One of the well-wishers, Jhon, said he had specially come to the airport to welcome her and personally see the champion who had helped boost Indonesias international reputation.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
