RI volleyballers to play in Japan

JAKARTA (JP): Chairwoman of the Indonesian Volleyball Federation (PBVSI) Rita Subowo said that she would send the national team which was being prepared for the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to Fukuoka, Japan, for an overseas tryout.

She said that the program would be held later in June. She said the national team would invite the Japanese team for a friendly here before leaving for Japan.

"Hopefully, the Indonesian volleyball team can be successful in the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in September," she was quoted by Antara as saying after meeting the chairman of the National Sports Council, Wismoyo Arismunandar, on Friday.

Another women's team will also leave for Vietnam to take part in the Asian interclub women's championship from May 18 to May 24.

"We will not send our key volleyballers to the Asian championships because we don't want the other Southeast Asian countries to monitor our strength. So we will send junior volleyballers instead," she said.

Indonesia will send 12 women's volleyballers from the Garuda club. "There will be no specific target. We hope the junior volleyballers can increase their experience by competing in an international event. They might even return successful," she said. (ivy)