Indonesia cruises into Olympic bridge semis

Indonesia cruises into Olympic bridge semis

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's men's team carved out a piece of
history when they cruised into the semifinals of the 10th Bridge
Olympics on Rhodes Island, Greece, Tuesday evening after beating
the 1990 World Champion Iceland.

Team manager Ananta Widjaja said Tuesday that the national
team, comprising Eddy Manoppo/Hengky Lasut, Denny Sacul/Franky
Karwur, defeated Iceland's Jon Baldursson/Sevar Thorbjornsson and
Gudmundur Arnarson/Adalsteinn Jorgensen 180-115.

The national team now challenges Denmark, which eliminated
former World Champion Italy 161-139, in the last four.

Defending champion France, which defeated underdog Russia 203-
138, will take on former runner-up China Taipei, which won
narrowly against former World Champion Poland 132-122.

Ananta said that the team's key to success is making sure that
all the players are able to maintain their physical and mental
condition during the 10-day Olympics.

Indonesia, runner-up in Group A after France, recorded its
best achievement in the quadrennial event, which is being
contested by 71 countries.

For the first time in history, the country reached the final
four. The team's previous best performance was the quarterfinals
at the 1984 Olympics in Seattle, U.S.A.

Indonesia debuted in the quadrennial event in 1976 in Monaco
and came 14th out of the 45 participating countries.

The country cruised into the big four of the 1974 Bermuda Bowl
Championships in Manila, Philippines and in 1975 in Venesia,
Italy. Only six countries, including Indonesia, took part in the
championships.

In the last Olympics in Salsomadiore, Italy, Indonesia's team,
comprising Giovanny Watulingas/Sance Panelewen, Donny
Tuerah/Noldy George and Ong Khan Him/Dadang Wiradia, only
finished 14th out of the 45 participants.

In the women's division, China beat Israel 129-57, the U.S.A.
defeated the Netherlands 128-70, Canada eliminated Germany 125-91
and Austria won 109-82 against England.

The semifinals, which will be staged over six sessions, takes
place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. (yan)