RI warms-up beach volleyball teams
RI warms-up beach volleyball teams
JAKARTA (JP): West Nusa Tenggara women's pairing of Tri Siwi
and Heny D.Z. took the laurels in the National Beach Volleyball
championships yesterday, but it was the country's top teams which
stole the show.
Siwi and Heny lost 9-15 to their National Team 2 opponents
Fransina Unepputy and Agustina Sineri in a match that drew
relentless applause from the 100-strong crowd that braved the
scorching heat to watch the game.
The unheralded duo earned the title because the top national
teams, who used the event to warm up for the 13th Asian Games in
December, were entered as non-competitors.
Nemah and Renny earned the silver medal after beating Jakarta
Team 1 15-4.
The East Java team of Arif Irawan and Supriadi won the men's
event with a crushing 12-5, 12-4 defeat of the Central Sulawesi
duo of Derry and Janus.
The crowd were also given an exhibition match starring
Indonesia's beach volleyball elite.
The country's best pairing of Olympian Engel Berta Kaize and
new partner Risma lost 8-12, 12-3, 6-12 to Elizabeth and Beatrix
Renyaan who are placed third in the national women's rankings.
On the men's side, Irilkhun Sofana and Agus Salim lived up to
their top billing as they came from behind to outlast their
second ranked opponents Iwan Sumoyo and Anjasmara 4-12, 12-2, 13-
11.
The Indonesian Volleyball Association's executive director,
Rita Subowo, said yesterday that the championships were the last
warm-up for the men's team before they left for the World
Championship in Turkey in September and the women's team which
has entered the Asian Series in Korea at the same time.
Rita looked undisturbed to see the best women's pair lose.
"Berta used to partner Ni Putu Timmy Yudani, who retired after
getting married in May. We hope that her replacement, Risma, will
improve," she said, adding that Timmy would remain first-choice
due to her international experience.
Rita said she would let Timmy rejoin her Olympic partner Berta
for the 2000 Olympics.
"They still rank among the world's best players. I hope Timmy
can come back soon," Rita said, adding that she has yet to
contact Timmy about her future plans.
Rita was optimistic Indonesia would have a say in the Asiad
beach volleyball competition and said China and Japan would be
its toughest rivals. (yan)