RI to host World Beach Volleyball Championships<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will host the ninth leg of the Men's
\nBeach Volleyball World Championships Series next month at
\nSenayan's tennis court and its new outdoor volleyball court.<\/p>\n
Rita Subowo, the chairwoman of the organizing committee, said
\nyesterday that the championship, sponsored by tile company
\nKeramik Diamond, will involve 47 teams from 17 countries.<\/p>\n
Olympics silver medalists Mike Dodd and Michael Whitmarsh from
\nthe U.S. and Canada's bronze medalists Mark Heese and John Child
\nare expected to take part in the US$150,000 championship from
\nOct. 2 to Oct. 6.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will field its two teams of Mochammad
\nNurmufid\/Markoji, the country's Olympians, and Iril Shofanna\/Agus
\nSalim.<\/p>\n
Twenty-four teams go automatically to the main draw, including
\nthe two national teams. Eight of the 23 teams, including five
\nIndonesian teams, must start in the qualifying round during the
\nfirst two days of competition.<\/p>\n
"The national team is preparing physically not only for the
\nchampionships but also for the Southeast Asian Games here next
\nyear," Rita said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian men's team, ranked 24th, did not compete in the two
\nworld series due to the 14th National Games, which recently
\nconcluded in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The women's team ranking dropped from ninth to 15th position
\nfor the same reason.<\/p>\n
International Volleyball Federation regulations state that a
\nteam must take part in at least five of the 15 world series.<\/p>\n
Rita promised the world series organizing committee that the
\nvolleyball competition will not ruin the clay tennis court, which
\nwill be covered by sand taken from Bangka island in Sumatra, as
\none of the two venues.<\/p>\n
"The federation has tested the sand and said that it is in
\nexcellent condition. It is even better than the sand used at the
\nCentennial Olympics," she said.<\/p>\n
Senayan was picked as the venue for the world series primarily
\nbecause of its central location.<\/p>\n
"We have Ancol beach but we only would have been allowed to
\nuse the beach in the 'gokart' circuit. The place is too small and
\nwould have required a lot of money in preparation. Besides,
\npeople prefer going to Senayan," she said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta will also host the Women's Beach Volleyball World
\nChampionships Series in November. The organizers plan to invite
\ngold, silver and bronze medalists from the Olympics. Indonesia
\nwill be represented by its two Olympians Timy Yudhani and Berta
\nEngel. (yan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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