Volleyball pair qualifies for the Olympic Games

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's men's beach volleyball pair of Markodji and Mohamad Nurmufid have qualified for the Olympic Games in Atlanta next year.

The pair, who starts playing in today's main draw of the 14th leg of the World Beach Volleyball Championship at Kuta beach, Bali, finished 22nd with 118 aggregate points at the championship's previous leg in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Only the world's top 24 men's teams from 24 countries will be eligible to take part in the men's beach volleyball competition in the Atlanta Olympic Games.

Being in the 22nd place means they are two steps away from Switzerland, which is in the 24th place with 96 aggregate points though Sweden, placed 23rd with 114, stands a relatively good chance of surpassing Indonesia.

Given that each subsequent leg loss adds 10 points, and each subsequent leg win adds 16 points, it is almost impossible for Switzerland to catch up with Indonesia.

For Switzerland to catch up with Indonesia, it would be necessary for it to record four subsequent wins and Indonesia four subsequent losses in the ongoing leg and the remaining three legs to make it 160 against 158.

The remaining three legs will be held in Puerto Rico, South Africa and Brazil in the upcoming months.

Thus, a passport to the Summer Games is already at hand, explained Rita Subowo, chairman of the Indonesian Beach Volleyball Committee, to The Jakarta Post yesterday. (arf)