Indonesia stays in 4th in Olympic bridge
Indonesia stays in 4th in Olympic bridge
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia won three and lost three to stay in fourth place in the
nine-round contract bridge exhibition at the Fourth International
Olympics Committee (IOC) Grand Prix in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Two of Indonesia's defeats were on Sunday against Norway and
Canada.
Ten nations representing the five continents are currently
taking part in the exhibition until Wednesday prior to the
official opening of the 2002 Winter Games on Friday.
Indonesia, which fielded its main national pairs of Eddy
Manoppo and Denny Sacul, and Franky Karwur and Robert Tobing,
faltered initially on Saturday when it lost to Italy 7-23 Victory
Points (VP).
Three wins on the trot -- over Brazil 20-10 VPs on Saturday,
and India 19-11 VPs and Australia 25-4 VPs on Sunday -- earned
them a second place on the provisional standings.
But Norway and Canada appeared to momentarily spoil
Indonesia's dream, as reported by www.bridge.gr, the official
website of the World Bridge Federation (WBF).
With team members comprising Tor Helness, Jon-Egil Furunes,
Geir Helgemo and Erik Austberg, Norway humiliated Indonesia 21-9
VPs.
It was Indonesia's second loss to Norway in major bridge
tournaments in four months, the first being the Bermuda Bowl last
October when the former was denied a place in the semifinals.
Canada, with its players Peter Jones, Nicholas Gartaganis,
Keith Balcombe and Gordon Campbell, handed Indonesia its third
defeat in the tournament, with a narrow 16-14 VPs.
The defeats saw Indonesia, which won the Third 2000 IOC Grand
Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland, drop from second to fourth.
The Salt Lake exhibition is being held to replace the canceled
4th edition of the IOC Grand Prix, which would have been staged
last year.
Indonesia is scheduled to play Egypt, United States and Poland
on the final day.
"We are almost certain to win against Egypt. With Poland, we
have better odds. Seen from our previous meetings, we beat them
more than they did to us," Bert Toar Polii, a former national
player, told The Jakarta Post here on Monday.
Egypt is struggling at the bottom with 71 VPs while Poland is
fifth with 92.5 VPs.
"I would be doubtful about Indonesia's chance with America.
But with only a pair from the Bermuda Bowl winning team, I'm
confident we are confident we will be able to overcome them and
reach the semifinals," he said.
Only four top teams will qualify for the semifinals with play
rules allowing the group-play winner to pick its opponent from
the other three semifinalists.