Tontowi and Liliyana Given Heroes' Welcome with a Parade on Double-Decker Float

Jakarta, 21 Dzulqa’dah 1437/24 August 2016 (MINA) – Indonesian Olympic gold medalists Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir were warmly welcomed by the government and fellow citizens upon arrival at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport here on Tuesday afternoon.

The gold medalists along with silver medalist weightlifters Eko Yuli Irawan and Sri Wahyuni, were given a heroes’ welcome and taken on board a double decker float called the Bandros bus, for a parade along the streets of Jakarta before heading to the Ministry of Youth and Sports building.

Also joined together in the float were Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, Chairman of the Indonesias Badminton Association (PBSI) Gita Wirjawan and the Chief de Mission of Indonesian Contingent Raja Sapta Oktohari.

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At the welcoming ceremony, Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi hailed the players’ victory as “the answer to eight years of drought for an Olympic gold medal”.

“We are very grateful as our players gave us a special prize to mark Indonesias 71th Anniversary with their gold medal achievement,” Minister Nahrawi said.

Ahmad and Liliyana won the medal after defeating the Malaysian women’s mixed double pair on the same day when the country was celebrating its Independence Day.

Another victorious procession is slated to be held on Wednesday morning from the ministry through the Jakarta main highways of Sudirman and MH Thamrin Streets to the Presidential Palace, where President Joko Widodo will receive them formally. (T/R07/R01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)