Indonesia cruises to Bermuda quarters

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite an 8-22 loss to minnows New Zealand, Indonesia cruised into the quarterfinals of the Bermuda Bowl, securing the last of the eight qualifying places after 17 sessions were completed on Saturday.

"The defeat did not result from a poor performance by the players. It was just because New Zealand, which had nothing to lose, played in such a wild manner," coach Bert Toar Polii said diplomatically from Paris.

Indonesia's qualification was also helped by the other results that saw Israel and Egypt, which ahead of the final session had held equally realistic chances of going through, crash out at the hands of their respective opponents.

Israel was crushed by France 6-24 while Egypt went down to Norway by the same score.

The 1-to-4 ranked teams are free to choose any one of the 5-to-8 finishers as their opponents for the next round, with the top team being given the first choice.

Leader Poland has chosen India, and runner-up Norway picked Indonesia as its opponent in the quarterfinals, which are expected to consist of six sessions, each with 16 boards.

The other two pairings pit U.S. II against France and 2000 Bermuda Bowl champion U.S. I against 2000 Olympiad champion Italy.

It is the second back-to-back meeting between Indonesia and Norway at the same stage. In the 2000 Bermuda Bowl in Bermuda Island, Indonesia, which ended its preliminary matches in fifth place was also paired with Norway.

Indonesia lost by a narrow 8.5 IMP (individual match points). But this time around Indonesia might be a better chance, having defeated the same opponent in the preliminary round.

However, the team refused to read too much in to the earlier win, simply saying that both teams had equal chances.

"I guess the odds are rated at 50-50. Indonesia has come to the championships with players holding a lot of international experience while Norway boasts of its young starters," Bert said.

The Venice Cup, the women's version of the championships, provided an upset as defending champion the Netherlands failed to qualify.

The Dutchwomen dropped to ninth and were denied a place in the top-eight battle that will now feature France against South Africa, U.S. I against Germany, China against Austria and England against U.S. II.