RI warms-up beach volleyball teams<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): West Nusa Tenggara women's pairing of Tri Siwi
\nand Heny D.Z. took the laurels in the National Beach Volleyball
\nchampionships yesterday, but it was the country's top teams which
\nstole the show.<\/p>\n
Siwi and Heny lost 9-15 to their National Team 2 opponents
\nFransina Unepputy and Agustina Sineri in a match that drew
\nrelentless applause from the 100-strong crowd that braved the
\nscorching heat to watch the game.<\/p>\n
The unheralded duo earned the title because the top national
\nteams, who used the event to warm up for the 13th Asian Games in
\nDecember, were entered as non-competitors.<\/p>\n
Nemah and Renny earned the silver medal after beating Jakarta
\nTeam 1 15-4.<\/p>\n
The East Java team of Arif Irawan and Supriadi won the men's
\nevent with a crushing 12-5, 12-4 defeat of the Central Sulawesi
\nduo of Derry and Janus.<\/p>\n
The crowd were also given an exhibition match starring
\nIndonesia's beach volleyball elite.<\/p>\n
The country's best pairing of Olympian Engel Berta Kaize and
\nnew partner Risma lost 8-12, 12-3, 6-12 to Elizabeth and Beatrix
\nRenyaan who are placed third in the national women's rankings.<\/p>\n
On the men's side, Irilkhun Sofana and Agus Salim lived up to
\ntheir top billing as they came from behind to outlast their
\nsecond ranked opponents Iwan Sumoyo and Anjasmara 4-12, 12-2, 13-
\n11.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Volleyball Association's executive director,
\nRita Subowo, said yesterday that the championships were the last
\nwarm-up for the men's team before they left for the World
\nChampionship in Turkey in September and the women's team which
\nhas entered the Asian Series in Korea at the same time.<\/p>\n
Rita looked undisturbed to see the best women's pair lose.<\/p>\n
\"Berta used to partner Ni Putu Timmy Yudani, who retired after
\ngetting married in May. We hope that her replacement, Risma, will
\nimprove,\" she said, adding that Timmy would remain first-choice
\ndue to her international experience.<\/p>\n
Rita said she would let Timmy rejoin her Olympic partner Berta
\nfor the 2000 Olympics.<\/p>\n
\"They still rank among the world's best players. I hope Timmy
\ncan come back soon,\" Rita said, adding that she has yet to
\ncontact Timmy about her future plans.<\/p>\n
Rita was optimistic Indonesia would have a say in the Asiad
\nbeach volleyball competition and said China and Japan would be
\nits toughest rivals. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-warms-up-beach-volleyball-teams-1447893297",
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