RI bridge team seeks repeat victory

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An Indonesian contract bridge team slated to compete in the Summer Bridge Festival in Canberra is hoping to relive its former glory by winning the tournament, according to a team member.

Indonesia won the 1995, 1996 and 1997 tournaments, and while its last appearance at the festival was in 1999, the team is optimistic that its return will be victorious.

The tournament, which appears to be the first event of the year for the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (Gabsi), will be held between Jan. 14 and Jan. 26.

"We have proven in the past that we could go to the top," Bert Toar Polii, a member of the six-strong team. told The Jakarta Post here on Wednesday.

Bert was part of the winning team in 1997. He will pair with Maja Bakara for this year's festival. The other two pairs are Ferdy Waluyan/Geovanny Watulingas and Noldy George/Yeldy Tontey.

The team will represent Indonesia after winning the National Bridge League, which concluded its 2003 term in early December.

With around 300 teams -- or 900 pairs -- expected to turn up, the festival is the biggest bridge event in Asia, according to Bert.

The total participants will be split into two groups, playing at the Convention Center and Ridges Hotel respectively.

The matches will be played in 15 sessions. The top eight teams from each of the two playing halls will qualify for the quarterfinals for a K.O. competition.

Bert, who is the deputy secretary general of Gabsi, said that teams from Italy, Poland, England, Netherlands and Australia would be among those teams which were traditionally Indonesia's strong rivals.

Bert will also be on the Indonesian team for the Gold Coast Congress tournament, which will be staged the following month. The team comprises of Lusje Bojoh/Taufik Hasby, Erwin L/Syachrial Ali and Bert/Memed Hendrawan.

Gabsi has unveiled its events calendar for this year, including around 15 overseas tournaments.