CHERAS: Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) girls showed great determination and team spirit to win the Kuala Lumpur Volleyball Open at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium last Sunday.
Despite being down two sets to love in the final to pre-tournament favourites, City Rangers, BJSS made full use of their excellent stamina to take the next three sets for a 21-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-11 triumph. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) almost suffered the same fate as City Rangers' in the men's final when they were stretched to five sets against a spirited BJSS boys' side but eventually prevailed 25-21, 25-19, 19-25, 20-25, 15-11.
Tournament director Ricky Chow said he was pleased with how the tournament had turned out after it was organised for the first time since 1995.
"It is good to have the tournament back after such a long lapse and the response from the teams and clubs has been very encouraging.
"We had a total of 30 men's and women's teams participating," said Chow.
The Kuala Lumpur Amateur Volleyball Association, which had undergone reorganisation last year, decided to host the event again this year in the hope of reviving the popularity of the sport in Kuala Lumpur.
"The association was more focused on developing a competitive team in the years since we last organised the Kuala Lumpur Open. It lacked manpower and resources to organise such an event," said Chow.
The Kuala Lumpur Open was sponsored by Kuala Lumpur City Hall.
