Indonesia's richest man going for gold at Asian Games

JAKARTA - Billionaire tobacco tycoon Michael Bambang Hartono may not be the oldest competitor at the Asian Games, but he is the richest.

The 78-year-old head of cigarette giant Djarum Group is set to represent host Indonesia on its bridge team at the world's second-biggest multi-sport event, which kicks off on Saturday (Aug 18) in Jakarta and co-host city Palembang.

Hartono was narrowly beaten in the age category by 81-year-old Malaysian bridge player Lee Hung Fong - who is seven decades older than the youngest athlete, nine-year-old Indonesian skateboarder Aliqqa Novvery Kayyisa.

But unlike his octogenarian bridge rival, Hartono, along with brother Robert, has been named Indonesia's richest man by Forbes magazine which also ranked him the 75th wealthiest in the world.

Hartono is estimated to have a net worth of some US$16.7 billion (S$23 billion) from his interests in tobacco, banking and communications.

Talk about business - especially his tobacco fortune - was not on the table when Hartono gave a rare media interview this week, however.

"I play bridge to keep my memory sharp. My other hobby is tai chi, which helps me stay focused," he told domestic news agency Antara.

Hartono - who reportedly started playing bridge at age six - was instrumental in convincing a sceptical Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to give the card game its first spot at the Asian Games.

"At first, the OCA declined to include bridge, as it appears to resemble gambling," he told Antara.

Hartono, who has competed several times in the World Bridge Championships, said he is shooting for gold at the Asian Games.

But he will forego a 1.5 billion rupiah (S$140,000) cash prize that the Indonesia's government gives top medallists.

"If I managed to win gold, I would donate the government's cash prize to the athletes training programme," he said.

Indonesia is hosting some 11,000 athletes and 5,000 officials from 45 Asian countries for the Aug 18 to Sept 2 Games.