RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's U-18 men’s volleyball team displayed maturity and composure as they swept Kyrgyzstan in straight sets, 25-23, 25-19, 25-13, during the classification round for the 9th–12th place at the AVC Championship 2026 in Haikou, China, on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

The victory was more than just a scoreline but also reflected the team’s growing confidence and ability to handle international competition.

Head coach Odyk Hermanto noted that the match showed how the players’ mentality is beginning to sharpen, especially since many of them are experiencing their first taste of international play.

“Alhamdulillah (All Praises to Allah), the players achieved maximum results against Kyrgyzstan. From the start, I emphasized that this team needs more match experience and long preparation,” Odyk said in a statement from the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI), as quoted by Antara.

He added that the squad is starting to find its rhythm and execute strategies more comfortably. “Confidence is a crucial asset. Once they enjoy the game, they can apply both defensive and attacking systems more effectively,” he explained.

Team manager Loudry Maspaitella echoed the sentiment, pointing out that the players looked calmer compared to earlier matches. He also acknowledged that while Indonesia’s technical and collective play was superior to Kyrgyzstan, there are still areas for improvement.

“The players were more composed, but there are still mistakes that must be evaluated for the next match,” Loudry concluded.

The convincing win keeps Indonesia in contention to finish ninth in the tournament. Their next challenge will be against the winner of the clash between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, a test of whether the team can maintain consistency after such a dominant performance. ***