Navy stages 16th KASAL Cup bridge tournament

JAKARTA (JP): To show its commitment to the development of contract bridge in the country, the Indonesian Navy is staging a competition at the Navy Officers House on Jl. Prapatan in Central Jakarta.

Organized by the Jakarta-based Navy's Sea Military Command (Kolinlamil), the Navy is hosting an internal contract bridge tournament for its personnel on Thursday and Friday prior to the 16th Navy Chief of Staff (KASAL) Cup open tournament, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

"The Navy has an emotional attachment to bridge because one of its personnel, Lt. Willy Roring, pioneered the establishment of the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (Gabsi) in 1953 and was its first chairman," Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono said in a written statement read by Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Fred Salem Lonan.

"The biennial KASAL Cup has been recognized as one of Gabsi's events since 1973 and the Navy will always support the sport," he added, while urging Navy's bridge players to improve their skills.

One hundred and three players from naval bases and units nationwide will take part in the internal tournament in two events: team-of-four and pairs.

For the open tournament, the registration is still open for interested participants.

Lonan opened the tournament on Thursday by playing one session. He teamed up with Kolinlamil's Rear Adm. JFA Manengkei against Ontowiryo and Frans Wenas, who are retired Navy colonels.

They told The Jakarta Post later that bridge was useful for Navy personnel.

"Most of our personnel spend their time on board warships or in the barracks playing bridge.

"It teaches you how to cooperate with your partner, build strategy and tactics, and train your mental capacity. Playing more than 10 boards can easily drain your stamina," Wenas said.

Manengkei said bridge was also useful in developing strategies for real combat.

"We have to consider several open possibilities in bridge, which is similar to what happens on the battlefield. You can't play according to the textbook," he said.

Records show that several Gabsi's officials are Navy officers. Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo AS is known as an excellent bridge player, while Rear Adm. Joost F. Mengko is Gabsi's executive chairman. Manengkei himself chairs the Navy's bridge club.

"The Navy always sends its bridge players to all the bridge national championships. We expect to have our personnel on the national team sometime in the future," said Manengkei. (nvn)