Tokyo Olympics: Indonesia’s badminton gold medallists Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu, who beat China, to be rewarded with billions of rupiah, land and ... meatball kiosks

The pair’s victory in the women’s doubles, along with the bronze of Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, has delighted a nation otherwise mired in coronavirus gloom

Government is expected to give each gold medallist five billion rupiah alongside other prizes while prominent businessmen have also promised gifts

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Apriyani Rahayu and Greysia Polii celebrate winning the badminton women’s doubles gold medal match between Indonesia and China at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: EPA

Published: 9:44pm, 2 Aug 2021Updated: 12:26pm, 3 Aug 2021

Indonesia’s first gold medallists at the Tokyo Olympics, badminton champions Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu, can expect to be handsomely rewarded for uplifting a nation battered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Greysia and Apriyani won their women’s doubles match on Tuesday in straight sets, defeating the second-seeded Chinese pair of Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan. The nation’s joy was compounded when just a few hours later another Indonesian shuttler, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, won bronze in the men’s singles.

The Indonesian government is expected to pay each of the gold medallists five billion rupiah (US$345,000) and hand them a number of other prizes that in the past have included houses, cars and motorcycles.

The pair are also likely to receive gifts from various prominent businessmen.

Indonesian badminton stars Apriyani Rahayu (right) and Greysia Polii on the podium with their gold medals after defeating China's Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Photo: AP

The Vice Mayor of Tomohon, a city in North Sulawesi, has promised to give a piece of land to Greysia (whose family has roots in the area); YouTube influencer Arief Muhammad has said he will gift meatball kiosks to both athletes; and Malang-based transport entrepreneur Gilang Widya Pramana has vowed to pay each 500 million rupiah.