Every one of the athletes, who competes in the Asian Games for the prize, is temperate in all aspects to win the prize and bonuses, prepared by their respective countries.
Some 15 thousand athletes from 45 countries in Asia, including those from the host country Indonesia, are competing hard in the Asian Games for pride and glory and are also chasing massive medal-winning cash bonuses.
China will certainly become the overall champion in the 2018 Asian Games sports event in Jakarta and Palembang, but the competition among athletes from countries in Asia vying for the prize has yet to come to an end.
A total of 30 gold medals are still up for grabs in the finals in 11 sports on Friday, with 10 gold in sailing, five in judo, four in track cycling, two each in sambo and scuba diving, two in roller skating, and one each in hockey, women`s soccer, modern pentathlon, triathlon, and handball.
The Indonesian contingent is still struggling to add a medal, although to gain gold is getting challenging.
As proven on Thursday was that the host country Indonesia was only able to win a silver in athletics men`s 4x100 meter (m) relay and a bronze in the women`s canoe double 500m.
The lack of medals is predictable, considering that the sports that are still being competed in the last days ahead of the closing of the Asian Games are not Indonesia`s mainstay.
Indonesia may need a "miracle" and more power to compete with athletes from powerful countries in the hunt for medals on Friday.
"Our athletes are 55, and hopefully, they can contribute some more medals," Indonesian skate team coach Yudhi Heryadi noted when met at the Jakabaring Sport skating arena in Palembang on Thursday.
In the meantime, Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi has ensured that bonuses will be disbursed in the first week of September to athletes, who won medals in the 2018 Asian Games.
Usually in multi-sport events, such as the SEA Games, the minister remarked that bonuses were disbursed after the entire series of matches until the ASEAN Para Games were complete.
It takes some two to three months, but for the 2018 Asian Games, the Youth and Sports Minister noted that the distribution of bonuses to outstanding athletes will be accelerated in accordance with President Joko Widodo`s instructions.
The minister explained that the 18th Asian Games bonuses offered by the government are not only for medal-winning athletes but also for coaches and assistant coaches.
According to Nahrawi, an individual gold medalist is entitled to a bonus of Rp1.5 billion, the pair or double gold medal winner is offered Rp1 billion for each, and the team gold medalist gets Rp750 million each.
"President Joko Widodo wants the bonus to be disbursed before the sweat of the athlete dries up. We make sure next week that the bonuses for the medal-winning athletes will be distributed," the sports and youth minister remarked.
The minister asserted that all bonuses will be sent directly through the account of each athlete, coach, and assistant coach. The bonus value received is also a net nominal without tax deductions.
In addition to cash bonuses, the government will give awards to Asian Games medalists in the form of appointments as civil servants and home bonuses from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing.
The government has vowed to give bonuses to the 2018 Asian Games athletes that won gold, silver, and bronze medals; trainers; and assistant coaches, but the amount will vary.
For gold medalists, individual will receive Rp1.5 billion; pair or double, Rp1 billion each; and team, Rp750 million per athlete.
The coaches of individual and double number will receive Rp450 million each; teach coaches, Rp600 million each; and additional bonuses for the second gold medal and so forth for the coaches is Rp225 million each.
Individual and group coach assistants will receive Rp300 to Rp375 million, and additional bonus for the second gold medal and so forth for an assistant coach is Rp150 million.
For silver medalists, Rp500 million for individual, Rp400 million each for pair or double, and team Rp300 million per athlete.
Double and team coaches will receive Rp150 to Rp200 million each, and additional bonus of Rp75 million will be given for the second silver medal as well as for the trainer.
Individual and team coach assistants will get Rp100 million to Rp125 million each, while additional bonus for the second silver for the assistant coach is Rp50 million.
For bronze medalists, the individual and double athletes will receive Rp250 million and Rp200 million each, team Rp150 million per athlete, and coaches for individual and double, Rp75 million and Rp100 million each.
Additional bonuses for the second bronze medal as well as for trainers is Rp37.5 million; individual coach assistants, Rp50 million; assistant coach with team, Rp62.5 million; and additional bonuses for the second bronze medal and so forth for the assistant coach is Rp25 million each.
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(O001/INE)
EDITED BY INE
(T.O001/A/KR-BSR/O001) 31-08-2018 12:39:34
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
