RI volleyball team to step up training

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Volleyball Association pledged yesterday to step up preparations for the 13th Asian Games in December despite the financial crisis.

The association's executive director, Rita Subowo, said the national volleyball teams would play warm-up matches abroad to score the minimum ranking points needed to qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

"This crisis makes it impossible for our teams to take part in all circuit series, but we have to compete in some series if we want to qualify for the 2000 Olympics," Rita said on the sidelines of the National Sports Council's annual congress.

She said the women's beach volleyball team would play in the Asian Circuit Championships in Thailand this weekend, while the men's indoor volleyball team was scheduled for the Asian Circuit Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in August.

"The monetary crisis should not stop our program to send the teams abroad ahead of the Asiad."

The association has called 32 spikers comprising 16 male indoor players, eight male and eight female beach spikers to join the national training program starting this month.

The men's indoor volleyball team consists of seven SEA Games players and nine newcomers. They are Loudry Maspaitella, Imam Agus Faizal, Benny Martarius, Robby Meliala, Teddy Hidayat, Risco Herlambang, Octavian, Minar Rohman, Edi Hartono, Agus Setiawan, Andri Widiatmoko, Eko Purnomo, Kartiko Hendro Aji, Marjoko Sigit, Herry K and Sodiqin. They are coached by Chinese Li Quijiang.

Agus Salim, Anjas Asmara, I Made Sumaryatna, Irilkhun Sofanna, Iwan Sumoyo, Alfinus Obanseleng, Roy Nanlohi and Slamet Untung will line up for the men's beach volleyball team.

The women's beach spikers are Engel Berta Kaize, Agustina Sineri, Ni Putu Timy Yudhani, Elizabeth, Fransina Uneputty, Beatrix Renyaan, Hertin Suwandi and Indri A.W. (yan)