Men's volleyball team aims for gold in 2001 SEA Games

Men's volleyball team aims for gold in 2001 SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Volleyball Federation (PBVSI)
vice chairman overseeing athletes development, Putut Marhaento,
said on Sunday that the country's men's indoor volleyball team
had a chance to win the gold in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
in Kuala Lumpur.

"I'm optimistic that our men's team can repeat its success in
the 1997 Games by winning the gold. Our men's team has equal
skills with tough countries compared to the women's counterparts.
Our preparation will determine our destiny."

"For the women's team, PBVSI only aims to reach the final,"
said Putut, who is also in charge of the Games training program,
at the sidelines of an All-Star match at the Bung Karno Indoor
Stadium.

Indonesian women's team won the 1997 Games silver here.
Volleyball was not featured in the 1999 Games in Brunei
Darussalam.

PBVSI has called up 20 men and 25 women indoor volleyballers
and 20 men and women beach volleyballers to the training program.
The women's indoor volleyball team is coached by Japanese Michio
Fujiwara while local coaches Wienarto and Ayub Hidayat will
supervise the men's indoor volleyball training.

Putut, who also coaches the men's volleyball team Yuso of
Yogyakarta, said the number of indoor volleyballers would be
reduced to 14 in each men's and women's team somewhere in March
or April. The core team, which will be set up by the end of
August, will consist of 12 men's and women's players.

"The men's team will warm up in the Asia-Pacific volleyball
championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in June. Its second test will be
the pre-qualifying round of the Asia zone for the World Cup
volleyball tournament in Kazakhstan in August."

"The women's team will also leave for Bangkok to take part in
the Princess Cup in June. After that, they will try find an
opportunity to play either the Japanese or Chinese team."

Putut said Thailand would be the toughest contender for both
national teams.

"Thai women have good postures and physical skills.
Besides Thailand, our men's team must also fight hard against
Myanmar and Malaysia, while the women's team will have to compete
against the Philippines and Vietnam."

In the All-Star match, the eastern team overpowered the
western team 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 25-18, 19-25, 15-11) in the
women's division. The men's match was still taking place as of
press time.

"This game is purely entertainment and features the top
women's volleyballers in clubs which compete in the 2000
volleyball league. This show is momentous because we want our
stars, our players, to shine so that the public can appreciate
it," said coach Teuku Djohan, who also trains the 2000 league
champions Bank BNI women's team of Jakarta. (ivy)