RI pairs lose in Brazilian tourney

JAKARTA: National men's beach volleyball pairs Agus Salim and Koko Prasetyo and Andy Ardiansyah and Supriyadi fell in qualifying for the Salvador 2005 Men's Open in Brazil on Thursday.

After a stunning first game, national number ones Agus and Koko lost to the Japanese pair of Asahi/Watanabe 21-1, 15-21, 13- 15 in a marathon 68-minute match, while Andi/Supriyadi were defeated by Florian Gosch/Bernhard Strauss of Austria 9-21, 21- 14, 8-15.

The 33-team qualifying draw used a knockout system instead of a double elimination format, Detik.com reported on Friday.

The two pairs -- in training for the Southeast Asian Games in November -- will now travel to Acapulco, Mexico, for Tuesday's stop on the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB)-Swatch World Tour. -- JP