Volleyball pair qualifies for the Olympic Games

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)