Indonesia rolls over former world champs
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian ladies contract bridge team put on an impressive performance by beating the Netherlands, England and the United States -- all three are former world champions -- on the second day of the World Bridge Championships in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on Tuesday.
Indonesia, which fielded Lusje Bojoh/Joice Mandolang and Elita Sofyan/Amelia Amri in the third round, scraped to a 18-12 win over the Netherlands.
Holland brought all but one player who gave them the Venice Cup, the trophy for the ladies team competition, in 2000.
In the fourth round, player-captain Donny Tuerah replaced Elita/Amelia by Fera Damayanti/Riantini and the decision paid off as the team beat England 21-9, which was an avenge of its defeat in 2001.
The lineup was then maintained and the team continued its consistency to upset USA1 18-12 in the fifth round.
"It was a remarkable achievement by Indonesian ladies given their past record in which they fell to a crushing 2-15 defeat by the U.S. team in 2001," Bert Toar Polii, an official of the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (Gabsi), said in a release.
Teams from Zone 6 have shown promising prospects so far with Chinese Taipei leading with 98 points after five of the scheduled 17 rounds. China was in fourth with 88 points.
Indonesia, though, was still struggling in 10th place with 76 points. The Asian trio are the continent's representatives after their winning runs in qualification matches in Manila.
Holland, which bounced back to overcome Australia and England, did not lose ground to follow in second place with 94 points while USA1, which beat Egypt and drew with Canada, stayed in third with 92 points.
In the Senior Bowl, Indonesia, which is spearheaded by the country's number one pair of Henky Lasut/Eddy Manoppo stumbled to an 8-22 loss to Denmark in the third round.
The team thrashed Monaco 25-5 but it was not enough to keep it from dropping to fourth place with 75 points with France.
Denmark, USA1 and Australia were the leading trio after four rounds.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian open team, which is competing in Bermuda Bowl, has yet to improve its play, ending up in 16th place among 22 teams after the second day of competition.
Santje Panelewen/Franky Karwur and Robert Tobing/Taufik G. Asbi won over China 17-13 and Bermuda 19-11.
Robert/Taufik were rested. Supeno/Santoso Sie came off the bench and the team failed in its match with Sweden, losing 7-23.