RI teams reach final of beach volleyball

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's three men's teams and two women's teams reached the final round of the Asian Tour Beach Volleyball championships at the Senayan Sport Center yesterday.

The country's first team of Nurmufid and Markoji will meet compatriots Irilkun and Agus, who make up team two, while Anjas and Iwan in team three will face New Zealand's Hamilton brothers.

In the semifinals Nurmufid and Markoji beat Mraz and Dykes from Australia 15-7 while Irilkun and Agus defeated Guillane and Loukowich, also from Australia 15-9.

The success of the two teams was continued by the country's third team. Anjas and Iwan beat Australians Mraz and Dykes 15-8.

The competition began Friday and ends today.

In the women's event, Indonesia's first team, Timy and Eta, advanced to the final round after beating fellow Indonesians Irene and Fransine, who were the third team, 15-2 in the semifinals.

Other Indonesian players, Yayah Rodiah and Eta Kaize, also advanced to the finals after beating Timy and Eta 15-13 in the semifinals.

In today's final they will take on Thailand's Kamoltip Kulna and Manoon Paengka, who defeated teammates Rattanaporn Araisuk and Orawan Dockthaison 15-13.

Timy and Eta today will face one of the toughest team, Nikki Fake and Angela Stojanovic from New Zealand.

Sixteen countries are represented in the championships.

These include Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand, India, Australia. Indonesia is fielding six men's teams and four women's teams.

Asian Beach Volleyball Council official Rita Subowo said the tournament would also serve as a progress evaluation exercise for the Indonesian teams preparing for the SEA Games in October. (03)