Indonesia, France battle for bridge lead<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia cruised to a hat trick of wins on the
\nfourth day of the 10th Bridge Olympics on Rodos Island, Greece,
\nWednesday to step up the pressure on group leader France.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's three convincing wins included a 21-9 upset of
\ndefending champion France in the 14th session of the tournament.<\/p>\n
The quartet of Eddy Manoppo\/Henky Lasut and Giovanni
\nWatulingas\/Sance Panelewen completed the day with a 17-13 win
\nover Chile and another 21-9 rout of China to lie second behind
\nFrance on the Group A leader board.<\/p>\n
After 16 sessions on Wednesday, France had collected 323
\nvictory points to go nine points clear of Indonesia. New Zealand
\nwas third just a point behind Indonesia, while Spain was fourth
\non 305.<\/p>\n
In Group B, Italy shot to the top of the standings with 308
\npoints, just half a point better than overnight leader Israel.
\nIceland, Chinese Taipei and Norway were third, fourth and fifth
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian women, however, failed to emulate their
\ncompatriots' commendable showing, managing only a draw with
\nPakistan and losing to Hungary to stay in 17th place with 126
\npoints.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's non-playing men's captain Munawar Sawiruddin said
\nthat his team's illustrious win over France was a matter of pair
\nchoices.<\/p>\n
"We picked the number one pair of Henky and Eddy to play
\nFrance's trump cards Alain Levy and Hervei Moueil who have never
\nwon in their previous encounters," Munawar was quoted by Antara
\nas saying.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian duo last beat the Frenchmen in the Cup Volmac
\ninvitational tournament in The Hague, the Netherlands, last
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
Munawar's strategy paid off when Henky and Eddy maintained
\ntheir winning streak over the French number one pair. The victory
\ninspired Giovanni and Sance to down France's second-string duo of
\nChristian Mari and Marc Bompis.<\/p>\n
On the fifth day, Indonesia expects to garner 90 more points
\nfrom matches against Denmark, Argentina, Bermuda and Sweden. A
\ntotal of 135 countries are taking part in quadrennial event.
\n(amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-france-battle-for-bridge-lead-1447893297",
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