The Bigger Goal of the National Volleyball Team Vs Red Sparks Exhibition

The exhibition match is a warm-up for the women's national volleyball team before taking part in the AVC Challenge Cup and SEA V League.

KOMPAS/REBIYYAH SALASAH

The women's national volleyball team (also known as the All Star Indonesia team) had their first training session at GOR Bulungan, South Jakarta, on Friday (19/4/2024). The training was conducted ahead of an exhibition match against a South Korean club previously represented by Megawati Hangestri, Daejeon Jung Kwan Jang Red Sparks.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The exhibition match against the South Korean club, Daejeon Jung Kwan Jang Red Sparks, April 20 2024, started efforts to develop the women's volleyball national team< /a> Indonesia. With the current team framework, the women's national team will take part in international matches in order to achieve a bigger target, namely breaking into the National Volleyball League or VNL.

A day before the match against Red Sparks, on Friday (19/4/2024), the women's national volleyball team, or in the exhibition match called All Star Indonesia team, held their first training session. Eleven out of 14 team members attended the two-hour practice session at GOR Bulungan, South Jakarta.

National team captain Agustin Wulandhari said that the team members had not fully joined because they were hampered by preparations for the 2024 Proliga. Proliga participating clubs are currently busy finalizing preparations before the competition starts on April 25. The three volleyball players who were absent were Jakarta BIN players, namely Ratri Wulandari, Ajeng Viona Adelea, and Wilda Siti Nurfadhilah Sugandi.

Also read: High Expectations Accompany Red Sparks and Megawati "Megatron" Hangestri

Nevertheless, Agustin said, this would not be a significant obstacle for the national team during the match. The players have matured technically and physically because they underwent training camps with their respective clubs. Training also aims to build chemistry between players so that the intensity is light.

KOMPAS/REBIYYAH SALASAH

The players of the Indonesian national women's volleyball team, also known as the All Star Indonesia team, conducted their first training session at GOR Bulungan, South Jakarta, on Friday (19/4/2024), ahead of their exhibition match against South Korean club Megawati Hangestri, Daejeon Jung Kwan Jang Red Sparks.

“This team is a mix of senior and junior (players). Together we build chemistry for young players, especially ahead of other international matches. So, in the next match, young players can gain experience by playing against several South Korean national team players. "This also increases their flying hours for future matches," said Agustin.

Agustin, a volleyball player who will turn 33 in August, is one of the senior players on the team. Together with Wilda Siti Nurfadhilah (29), Yolla Yuliana (29), and Hany Budiarti (27), Agustin will "guide" their junior teammates.

Out of the 14 players called up to join the women's national team squad, the majority are young volleyball players. Three of them will make their debut at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, namely Mediol Stiovanny Yoku (24), Dita Azizah (19), and Aulia Suci (19).

Also read: Once Against Megawati Hangestri, Two or Three Islands Are Overcome

Seven other players are also aged 25 or younger, namely Ratri Wulandari (21), Shella Bhernadeta Onnan (24), Ajeng Viona Adelea (21), Khalisa Azilia Rahma (25), Latifa Nisa Az-Zahra (19), and Sania Clarissa Putri (19). There is also Maradanti Namira (18), a volleyball player born on January 5, 2006, who is the youngest player in the squad.

KOMPAS/REBIYYAH SALASAH

The national women's volleyball team players, also known as the Indonesian All Star team, held their first practice at GOR Bulungan in South Jakarta on Friday (19/4/2024). The training was conducted ahead of an exhibition match against a South Korean club that was previously strengthened by Megawati Hangestri, Daejeon Jung Kwan Jang Red Sparks.

General Chairperson of the All Indonesia Volleyball Association (PP PBVSI) Central Management Association (PP PBVSI) Imam Sudjarwo said that the team framework currently formed would be prepared for several upcoming events. Two of them are the AVC Challenge Cup in the Philippines in May 2024 and the SEA V League which will be held in Thailand and Vietnam in August 2024.

”Yes, there is indeed a bigger goal (of the exhibition match). "We hope to penetrate VNL," said Imam.

VNL is an annual volleyball competition that was originally only participated by the 16 best countries in the world. Starting from the 2025 edition, VNL participants will increase to 18 teams. To qualify for the VNL, the national team must participate in the AVC Challenge, which is a continental level competition under the AVC (Asian Volleyball Confederation).

Also read: Vietnam Women's Volleyball Domination over Indonesia Continues

The champion of the AVC Challenge is entitled to represent Asia in the FIVB Challenger Cup, a tournament under the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). The men's and women's teams that become the champions of the FIVB Challenger Cup 2023 will have the opportunity to compete in VNL 2024, replacing the bottom-ranked teams that have been relegated from VNL.

KOMPAS/REBIYYAH SALASAH

The members of the Indonesian women's national volleyball team, also known as the All Star Indonesia team, conducted their first training session at GOR Bulungan, South Jakarta, on Friday (19/4/2024), ahead of an exhibition match against a South Korean club previously led by Megawati Hangestri, Daejeon Jung Kwan Jang Red Sparks.

However, with the new format in the 2025 edition, FIVB has changed the provisions. There will be no relegation for VNL 2024 participant teams, while the winner of the FIVB Challenger Cup 2024, plus the top-ranked senior men's volleyball team in the world who have not qualified, will join the participant teams.

At the end of VNL 2025, the bottom-ranked team will be relegated. This team will be replaced by the country with the best world ranking outside of the remaining contestants. It is no longer mentioned that the winner of AVC Challenge Cup will be promoted to the competition.

Indonesia's dream of advancing to the VNL was shattered last year by Vietnam. In the final match, Indonesia lost 2-3 (18-25, 27-25, 25-21, 20-25, 13-15). Vietnam also failed to follow Thailand, the only Southeast Asian team in the VNL, after losing to France in the early round of the FIVB Challenger Cup.