Indonesia wins Brighton bridge

Indonesia wins Brighton bridge

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian bridge team received a warm
welcome at home on Saturday after winning the Bridge Union
international tournament in Brighton, England.

Their faces wreathed in smiles, the bridge aces, the duo of
Henky Lasut and Eddy Manoppo, the pair of Deny Sakul and Franky
Karwur and the partnership of Santje Penelewen and Giovani
Watulingas, showed off the Four Stars trophy in a brief welcome
ceremony led by chief of the Indonesian Contract Bridge
Association Wiranto at Soekarno-Hatta airport.

The national team collected 92 points to triumph in the Aug.
17-Aug. 25 event which is billed as one of the biggest annual
tournaments in Europe. The world's best 280 pairs took part in
this year's meet.

Coming second behind Indonesia was Sweden, followed by the
United States.

Adding spice to Indonesia's celebration, Panelewan and
Watulingas were named the best tandem during the "Play with
Expert" exhibition during the tournament.

Team manager Munawar Sawirudin told Wiranto that his players
had assured their victory after the penultimate session of the
eight-round final.

Wiranto said the victory would serve as a confidence boost to
the national team which is gearing up for the Olympics of Bridge
in Athens from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2.

"This victory proves that Indonesia is a world-class team in
bridge," said Wiranto, who is also the chief of the Army
Strategic Reserves Command.

Indonesia, which won the Far East Bridge Federation
championship and the Australia Open last year, is now setting its
sights on winning the Bermuda Bowl world championship it will
host in 2001. (amd)