Including Megawati ”Megatron”, 14 Players Called for the AVC Challenge Cup

The Indonesian women's national volleyball team squad for the AVC Challenge Cup is almost the same as last year. Junior players take part.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

National women's volleyball player, Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi, posed for photos after giving a press statement regarding the success of her team, Jakarta BIN, in defeating Jakarta Elektric PLN, 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18), in the 2024 Proliga Palembang series at the Palembang Sport and Convention Center on Thursday (9/5/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Central Board of the All Indonesia Volleyball Association or PP PBVSI called 14 female players to compete in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup which will take place in the Philippines, May 22-29. Even though there is no training camp, the team's main framework is the players who took second place in the same event last year.

Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi is again the mainstay of the team's attack along with Ratri Wulandari, Hany Budiarti, Aulia Suci Nurfadila, and Ajeng Viona Adelea. One new name that was called was Putri Nur Hidayanti Agustin.

Putri is the recipient of the award for future female players in the Livoli Main Division 2023. Besides Putri, the debut player in the national team for the AVC Challenge Cup is Maradanti Namira. At only 18 years old, Maradanti is the youngest player in the squad. She is a junior player who was called up when the national team faced an exhibition match against the Korean Volleyball League club, Daejeon Jung Kwan Jang Red Sparks.

Also read: Indonesian Women's Volleyball Maintains Perfection

Meanwhile, in the middle blocker position, senior players Wilda Siti Nurfadhillah and Agustin Wulandhari are also still trusted to strengthen the team. Shella Bernadheta Onnan Maradanti and Namira Tegariana are also new colors in the squad for this year's AVC Challenge.

HUMAS PP PBVSI

The players and coach of the Indonesian national volleyball team expressed their joy after successfully securing a spot in the semifinals of the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup without losing a single set at the Tri Dharma Sports Hall in Gresik, East Java on Friday (June 23, 2023).

Meanwhile, Tisya Amaliya Putri and Arneta Putri Amelian are again the main choices for the setter position. Likewise, the libero is again relying on Yulis Indahyani and Dita Azizah. The coach appointed to handle this team remains the same, namely Alim Suseno.

It is not possible to hold joint training camps. The group's technical departure is arranged according to the 2024 Proliga schedule.

Secretary General of the Indonesian Volleyball Association, Heyzer Harsono, mentioned in a call letter that centralized training for the national team for the AVC Challenge Cup 2024 is not feasible. This is because the players are spread out in teams participating in the domestic professional league, Proliga 2024. Meanwhile, the schedule for the AVC Challenge Cup is close to that of Proliga.

“It is not possible to hold joint training camps. "The group's technical departure is arranged according to the 2024 Proliga schedule," said Heyzer Harsono.

Also read: Gia-Duel”Megatron” Unfulfilled, Jakarta BIN Libas Jakarta Pertamina Enduro

The Proliga 2024, held in Gresik, East Java, will take place on May 16-19, 2024. Therefore, the players will directly depart to the Philippines from Juanda Airport, Surabaya, one day after the final match of Proliga.

After competing in the AVC Challenge Cup, the players will return on May 30th, 2024 and be sent back to their respective clubs to participate in the continuation of the second round of Proliga 2024. The competition will be held again on June 6-9, 2024 in Bandung, West Java.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

The Indonesian women's national volleyball team player, Agustin Wulandhari, did a spike towards the Vietnam national team players in the AVC Challenge Cup Final match at GOR Tridharma Petrokimia, Gresik, Sunday (25/6/2023).

This will be the second appearance of the Indonesian women's team in the AVC Challenge Cup. In their debut participation last year in Gresik, East Java, Indonesia had to settle for a silver medal after losing to Vietnam in the final match.

Previously, the General Chairman of the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI), Imam Sudjarwo, stated that the team framework formed during the match against the Red Sparks was prepared for several upcoming competitions. In addition to the AVC Challenge Cup, the players are also prepared for the SEA V League which will be held in Thailand and Vietnam in August 2024.

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

Imam said that there was a bigger goal with the formation of the team. That goal is to penetrate the National Volleyball League (VNL), an annual volleyball competition participated in by 16 of the world's best countries.

Starting from the 2025 edition, the participants in VNL will increase to 18 teams. To be able to enter VNL, the national team must participate in the AVC Challenge, which is a continental-level competition under the AVC (Asian Volleyball Confederation).

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Indonesia's national team players were on the podium to receive the silver medal after losing to Vietnam in the Final of the AVC Challenge Cup at GOR Tridharma Petrokimia, Gresik, East Java, on Sunday (25/6/2023).

However, with the changes in the 2025 edition, FIVB has revised this provision. There will be no relegation for VNL 2024 participant teams, while the winner of the FIVB Challenger Cup 2024, as well as the top-ranked senior volleyball teams in the world who have not qualified, will join the list of participant teams.

The bottom-ranked team in the VNL (Volleyball Nations League) will be relegated by the end of 2025. The team will be replaced by the country with the highest world ranking outside of the remaining contestants. The winner of the FIVB Challenge Cup will no longer be promoted to the league. As a result, this year is Indonesia's last chance to qualify for the VNL through the AVC Challenge and FIVB Challenge Cup.

In the AVC Challenge Cup 2024, Indonesia is in Group B along with Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Group A consists of the Philippines, Taiwan, India, Iran, and Australia.

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

Vietnam will be one of the obstacles for Indonesia in that event. Last year, Vietnam dashed Indonesia's dream of making it to the VNL. In the final match, Indonesia lost 2-3 (18-25, 27-25, 25-21, 20-25, 13-15). Vietnam also failed to follow in Thailand's footsteps, the only Southeast Asian team in the VNL, after losing to France in the early rounds of the FIVB Challenger Cup.