SIBU: The inclusion of Indonesia’s J Team in the Sarawak International Volleyball Invitation (SIVI) 2026 marks a major milestone for the tournament, says organising chairperson Stephanie Law, as the event welcomes its first Indonesian participation.
Stephanie said the entry of the Indonesian side has significantly raised the overall standard of the four day competition (Jul 4 to 7) at the Sibu Volleyball Indoor Stadium.
“I am very happy to see the Indonesia J Team joining our tournament this year. It is a milestone for SIVI, as this is the first time we have had an Indonesian team participate in our invitation tournament,” she told Sarawak Tribune on Sunday (Jul 5).
She added that the presence of high-calibre players has made the competition more challenging and meaningful for local teams.
“Their presence has raised the overall standard of the competition, especially with the inclusion of Thailand national team player Kattika Kaewpin in their squad.
“Having teams of this calibre creates a more competitive tournament and gives our local players the opportunity to compete against high-level international talent,” she said.
Stephanie also expressed hope that the participation would pave the way for stronger regional ties in the future.
“I hope this is the beginning of a long-term relationship and we look forward to welcoming more Indonesian teams to SIVI in the future,” she added.
The tournament features five teams — J Team Indonesia with 14 players, NOVA Volleyball Club with 12 players, Sarawak SUKMA with 14 players, Spring Fox Selangor with 14 players, and Victory Volleyball Club from Hong Kong with 14 players.
This brings the total number of participating athletes to 68, close to 70 players.
SIVI 2026 continues in Sibu with five participating teams competing in a round-robin format, providing valuable exposure for local and international players ahead of upcoming competitions.
