Indonesia struggles into Olympic bridge final<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's men's bridge team won through to the
\nfinal of the 10th Bridge Olympics on Rhodes Island, Greece,
\nyesterday -- but only just.<\/p>\n
In the most tense match of the tournament to date, Indonesia
\nbeat Denmark 13-9 in a tiebreaker after they had finished the
\nregulation six sessions level on 217 points.<\/p>\n
In its first ever final Indonesia meets defending champion
\nFrance, who came from behind to beat Chinese Taipei by 19 points
\nin their nail-biting semifinal. The Taiwanese put their French
\nopponents on the brink of an upset defeat when they took a
\ncomfortable 22-point lead after the penultimate session.<\/p>\n
The final will be played over eight rounds and three days
\nbeginning this evening.<\/p>\n
Indonesia wasted its 12-point lead going into the sixth and
\nfinal session, allowing Denmark to force the extra time.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, fielding Hengky Lasut\/Eddy Manoppo, Denny
\nSakul\/Franky Karwur, Sance Panelewen\/Giovanni Watulinggas,
\nnotched up 186 points after five sessions.<\/p>\n
Denmark was represented by Lange Schaffer, Morten Andersen,
\nLars Blakset, Soren Christiansen, Dennis Koch Palmund and Jens
\nAuken.<\/p>\n
In the women's division, Canada gave up to China after the
\nAsian side built up a massive 200-point lead. The Chinese seemed
\nto have no trouble in disposing of its North American opponent as
\nthey soared 186-51 after the fifth session.<\/p>\n
China will now play Bermuda Bowl champion the United States
\nwhich demonstrated a brilliant last-ditch fightback in its
\nsemifinal against Austria. The Americans won by 59 points after
\ntrailing 123-145 midway through the match.<\/p>\n
It is the first time in Bridge Olympics history that three
\nAsian teams, from China, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia, have
\nreached the semifinals since the initial Olympics in 1960 in
\nTurin, Italy. No Asian country has ever won the title. (arf\/amd)<\/p>",
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