Petrokimia Gresik Supports National Volleyball Athletes in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup for Women

Petrokimia Gresik, an Agroindustry Solution company and a member of the Pupuk Indonesia, is actively backing the achievements of national volleyball athletes through the organization of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup for Women, taking place at GOR Tri Dharma Petrokimia Gresik from June 18 to 25, 2023.

The Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Menpora RI), Dito Ariotedjo, expressed his pleasure during a press conference regarding the hosting of this women's volleyball championship at the Asian level. He highlighted the positive impact it could have on the experience and development of women's volleyball athletes in Indonesia.

"The existence of this championship indirectly represents a collective effort to foster interest and talent in volleyball in Indonesia," he added.

According to the Minister of Youth and Sports, this competition will enhance the skills and abilities of the Indonesian National Team (Timnas) players, better preparing them for competitions at a higher level.

"AVC could be a benchmark for the Indonesian Women's Volleyball Team competing in the Asian Games. It serves as a basis for us to assess their potential in that event," emphasized the Menpora.

Regarding the choice of Gresik as the venue for the AVC event, the Menpora stated that GOR Tri Dharma, owned by Petrokimia Gresik, already meets international standards. It has previously been used for international competitions, such as "The 19th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship 2017." Therefore, it is well-suited for both competitions and training.

"Additionally, the volleyball enthusiasts in Gresik and its surroundings are exceptional, as seen during the Proliga," he explained.

In the same context, Rita Subowo, the President of AVC, revealed that hosting the AVC was not an easy task due to numerous requirements that had to be met. "Therefore, playing in our own country, hopefully, the Indonesian Women's Volleyball Team can showcase their achievements," she remarked briefly.

Meanwhile, Dwi Satriyo Annurogo, the President Director of Petrokimia Gresik, stated that the support for the AVC event is a realization of Petrokimia Gresik's commitment to contribute continuously to the field of sports, particularly volleyball.

"Petrokimia Gresik is not only committed to producing high-quality and environmentally friendly agroindustry solutions but also plays a role in the progress of various other fields, including sports in Indonesia," he asserted.

In this event, Petrokimia Gresik has the opportunity to be a partner in organizing the AVC activities at GOR Tri Dharma. The GOR, which serves as the training center for PBV Petrokimia Gresik, has been used as the Training Center for the National Volleyball Team since June 1, 2023.

"Furthermore, athletes developed by Petrokimia Gresik are also reinforcing the Indonesian National Team in the AVC competition. They are Mediol Stiovany Yoku and Dhea Cahya Pitaloka. I hope both of them can deliver their best performances," stated Dwi Satriyo.

For the AVC event, there are teams from eleven countries participating, including the Indonesian Women's Volleyball Team, Macau, and the Philippines. Additionally, eight other countries, namely Hong Kong, Taiwan, Iran, India, Australia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and Vietnam, are also competing.

Indonesia Wins First Match

In the opening match, Team Indonesia successfully won the match after defeating the team from Macau with a score of 3-0 (25-7, 25-18, and 25-8).

The Head Coach of the Indonesian National Team, Alim Suseno, hopes his players will not be satisfied with this achievement because, to become the group champion, the national team must defeat the Philippines.

"In the match against Macau, we were able to field both main and substitute players so that everyone could experience it. Next, we will try our best to become the group champion," he emphasized.