Palembang Holds Beach Volleyball Test, Prepares for Asian Games
Jakarta. The Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee, or Inasgoc, held a beach volleyball test event at Jakabaring Sports City in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Friday (20/10), which was attended by an official from the Asian Volleyball Confederation, or AVC.
The event, themed "The 6th South Sumatra Governor Cup 2017," which involves teams from 15 countries, will end on Monday.
"Overall it's good," AVC technical delegate Ng Chung said in a statement. "But, there are some areas that need to be improved ... the center court is too small and should be widened. Moreover, the spectators area should not been filled with sand, only the court needs it," he added.
"Asian Games is a different level, so more space is needed," he said.
Friday's series saw the host's pair Imtaq Shihab and Gunawan Dewantoro beaten 16-21 10-21 by Sam O'Dea and Sonny Hirini of New Zealand in the men's event.
Meanwhile, another Indonesia's men's pair Candra Rachmawan and Mohammad Ashfiya, who won last month's 29th Southeast Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in Singapore, advanced to the next round, after beating Kazakhstan's Alexey Kuleshov and Sergey Bogatu by 21-19 21-16.
In the women's side, the host remains the only team, with Dhita Juliana and Putu Utami advancing to the quarterfinals after defeating compatriots Desi Ratnasari and Yokebed Purari Eka by 21-14 21-15.
South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin, who addressed the event's opening on Thursday, said the test event has received some important feedback to make Jakabaring ready to stage the 2018 Asian Games.
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