Timy, Devota invited to Bali tournament

JAKARTA: Local teams Ni Putu Timy Yudhani and Devota Rahawarin and Iim Mukadimah and Ike Prasetyowati have secured places in the main draw of next week's 2005 women's Bali Open, part of the Swatch-FIVB World Beach Vollleyball Tour.

Head of the tournament organizing committee Kabul Riswanto said they would compete against 30 other teams.

Other participants include Americans Kerry Wals/May Treanor, Adriana Behar/Shelda Bede of Brazil, who won the 1996 tournament when it was held in Jakarta, and Koizumi/Tanaka of Japan.

Brazil will send five teams, with three qualifying for the main draw and two other competing from qualifications.

The U.S. has three teams in the main draw.

"We have received the names to play in Bali. Twenty-four teams are already in the main draw and eight more teams will be taken from the qualifying rounds involving 24 teams," Kabul said on Friday.

The Bali Open, part of the 2005 Swatch-FIVB World Tour, will be held at Inna Grand Bali Beach Sanur starting from Sept. 14- Sept 18. -- JP

Izumi makes up for Olympic loss

CAIRO: Hiroshi Izumi of Japan made up for his Olympic disappointment by claiming the world under-90kg title with a victory over Ilias Iliadis of Greece on Friday.

France's Lucie Decosse also turned the tables on an Olympic champion on the second day of the world championships, beating Ayumi Tanimoto of Japan to win the women's under-63kg division .

It was a great day for the Netherlands as Edith Bosch won the women's under-70kg category and Guillaume Elmont triumphed in the men's under-81kg.

Izumi reached the final in Athens last August but was defeated by Georgia's Zurab Zviadauri with a stunning counter throw.

Iliadis, a Georgian who defected to Greece three years ago, is Zviadauri's cousin and became the Olympic under-81kg champion in his adopted country last year.

Bosch claimed her first world title with a hard fought victory over France's surprise finalist Gevriese Emane. -- Reuters