Proliga Selection Event for National Volleyball Team: Sports Minister

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali has said that national volleyball competition 2022 PLN Mobile Proliga is an opportunity for selecting national players for the 31st SEA Games.

He officially opened the tournament at General Kunarto Volleyball Training Center, Sentul village, Bogor district, West Java province, on Friday.

"Although it is being held without spectators, 2022 Proliga is still lively," he remarked in an official statement received by ANTARA from the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) on Friday.

Furthermore, he said he expected that the competition -- which had been suspended in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – will serve as a momentum for higher achievements.

The minister said he hoped that the women's national team would be able to follow the achievement of the men’s national team, which won gold at the 2019 Philippines SEA Games after defeating the host team by 3-0 (25-21, 27-25, 25-17).

At the event, the Indonesian women's team had bagged the bronze medal. Meanwhile, the gold and silver medals had been snatched by Thailand and Vietnam, respectively.

According to the general chairperson of PBVSI, Imam Sudjarwo, the 2022 Proliga aims to form and consolidate the Indonesian volleyball team for the 31st SEA Games, which will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam, from May 12–23, 2022.

"At the same time, the implementation of the competition can cure the longing of Indonesian volleyball lovers," he added.

To anticipate the transmission of COVID-19, 2022 PLN Mobile Proliga is being implemented without spectators, officials said.

A total of 11 volleyball teams from across Indonesia are participating in the tournament.

The Jakarta Pertamina Pertamax, Surabaya Bhayangkara Samator, Jakarta