RI volleyballers join Aspac tourney

RI volleyballers join Aspac tourney

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI)
sent its top four male beach volleyballers to Thrang and Pattaya
in Thailand, on Wednesday to compete in the Asia Pacific beach
volleyball tournament attended by 10 countries.

PBVSI spokesman Ahmed Solihin said the four athletes -- Agus
Salim, Irilkhun Shofana, Iwan Sumoyo and Anjas Asmara -- were set
to finish in the top three in the second tournament in Pattaya.

The tournament, however, does not serve as a prequalification
for the 2000 Olympics.

Ahmed said the four would participate in eight out of sixteen
world series tournaments, slated from June to August, to qualify
for the Olympics. He said the athletes would only begin competing
in June, instead of the series start in January, because of
preliminary training commitments in West Nusa Tenggara in March.

The International Volleyball Association will announce the 16
beach volleyball teams to qualify for the Olympics next July.
Each team comprises two players except for Olympic host Australia
which is allowed three athletes. (ivy)