Sports Minister Plans Special Parade for Tontowi and Liliana on Their Arrival in Jakarta

Jakarta, 15 Dzulqa’dah 1437/18 August 2016 (MINA) – The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs will make a special reception to Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir who has become a hero for contributing a gold medal for Indonesia at the 2016 Olympics.

According to a plan drawn up by the ministry, the best Indonesian mixed doubles pair will be paraded at the top of an open vehicle through the capital Jakarta, upon their arrival from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“We will welcome Owi and Butet, and all fighters in the Olympics. Sri Wahyu and Eko Yuli Irawan also will welcome them at the airport, and will be paraded through the Jakarta boulevard led to the State Palace,” said Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Imam Nahrawi after watching together in the yard office here late night Wednesday, before the clock struck midnight in Jakarta to mark the end of Indonesia’s Independence Day. .

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“So, let the Jakartans in particular, we greet our heroes who will return home. We welcome them with joy and gratitude, and with the spirit we hopefully will win more gold at the Olympics.”

Besides being paraded on a float, he added, Tontowi and Liliyana will be met with President Joko Widodo at the State Palace.

Tontowi and Liliyana presented their country with the best gift any athletes could ever give – an Olympic gold medal after defeating Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying of Malaysia in straight sets 21-a4 and 21-14.

It was the first Olympic gold medal for both Ahmad and 30-year-old Liliana, who adds to her mixed doubles silver won at the 2008 Beijing Games.