RI favored for gold in men's volleyball at SEA Games
RI favored for gold in men's volleyball at SEA Games
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Thailand, the acknowledged regional powerhouse for beach volleyball, know that Indonesia will be no pushover in the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.
"I think in men's beach volleyball, Indonesia is still ranked first in Southeast Asia, while we are the strongest team for the women, but Indonesia are developing very quickly," Thai coach Nantharit Nan said during the Swatch-FIVB World Tour in Sanur, Bali, in September.
"It is very possible that the Indonesian men will win gold in SEA Games beach volleyball."
National number ones Agus Salim and Koko Prasetyo and Andy Ardiansyah and Supriyadi have been picked for training by the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI).
Agus and Koko won back-to-back golds in 2001 and 2003, but Andy and Supriyadi stamped their newfound authority on the national scene during this year's Indonesia Open series.
After overcoming other local as well as international competitors, the national pairings contested all four finals in Yogyakarta, Semarang, Surabaya and Jakarta.
Andy and Supriyadi came out on top three times, including in the series finale in the capital.
In women's beach volleyball, the duo of veteran Ni Putu Timy Yudhani, 29, and Devota Rahawarin, 22, and tyounger pair of Iim Mukadimah and Ike Prasetyowati are also in training for the November games, with beach volleyball to be held in Bacolod City.
Nantharit said this country's players were blessed with many opportunities to sharpen their skills.
"Indonesia has many beach volleyball competitions, not like Thailand. This is good to help the pairs maintain their playing level and to improve."
Timy, a 1997 SEA Games gold medalist and 2003 silver medalist with different partners, said the women were expected to medal although gold was not the absolute target.
"For us women, PBVSI only asked for a medal but it did not specify gold, silver or bronze," she said, adding that defending champions Kamoltip Kuna and Jarunne Sannok of Thailand were still the favorites.
Thailand is also fielding two younger female pairs, Upa Puklongploy/Usa Tenpaksee and Kasinee Godtalang/Arawan Tongkamkak, for the regional competition.
Recent form suggests that Timy and Devota, who paired up in 2004, will be strong contenders for gold.
After sweeping all four legs of the Indonesia Open, they reached the second round of the Bali event; the Thai pairings were eliminated in the first round.
"You two have shown a world class performance," national coach Slamet Mulyanto told them after their run in Bali.
As the final preparation for Bacolod City, PBVSI will send the men's pairs to the World Tour in Brazil and Mexico from Oct. 19- Oct. 29 and the women's pairs to the Asian Tour in Malaysia also this month.