RI after to honors in bridge<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's 18-strong team will depart for the
\nPacific Asia Bridge Championships in Kobe, Japan, today with an
\nambitious target of sweeping all three top honors on offer.<\/p>\n
Playing captain Munawar Syafirudin said yesterday the
\ncountry's greatest chance to win was in the open team, where he
\nand fellow senior bridge player Hengky Lasut would team up.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia remains the best bridge team in Asia, despite the
\nslight slump in the past two years,\" Munawar said.<\/p>\n
The country continued its poor recent record when it finished
\nsecond behind host India in a national championship last year.
\nIndonesia competed as an invitee.<\/p>\n
Munawar said he believed his team would shine in the annual
\ncompetition in Kobe, to be held from May 14 to May 24, as other
\nsquads were full of second-string players.<\/p>\n
\"From the list of participants, I know that other countries
\nwon't send their best athletes,\" Munawar said after paying a
\ncourtesy call on the chairman of the National Sports Council,
\nWismoyo Arismunandar.<\/p>\n
Other than the open team, there are ladies and junior events
\nin the tournament.<\/p>\n
Six officials will accompany the Indonesian bridge players.<\/p>\n
Munawar also said bridge would make its debut in the upcoming
\nAsian Games in Bangkok as an exhibition, following an approach
\nmade by the Thailand bridge body to the event's organizers and
\nthe World Bridge Federation.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia would take the full advantage of the efforts
\nand made a favorable prediction if the sport was included among
\nthe gold medal events in the 2002 Asiad in Pusan, South Korea.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully we will be able to maintain our achievements in the
\ncoming years, because bridge will contribute gold medals to
\nIndonesia in the Asian Games,\" Munawar said. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-after-to-honors-in-bridge-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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