RI bridge team to revel in Salt Lake challenge
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian bridge team has put the disappointing campaign at the recent Bermuda Bowl behind it and is now set for a new challenge when the 2002 Winter Olympics begin in Salt Lake City, the United States, in February.
Indonesia's bridge governing body (Gabsi), plans to carry out a training camp for the competitors starting on Nov. 14 in preparation for the Salt Lake Games where bridge will be an exhibition event.
"We will prepare for a month prior to taking a break for Lebaran (Muslim religious festivity) and Christmas and will resume for another month," Bert Toar Polii, Gabsi's deputy secretary-general, told The Jakarta Post here on Tuesday.
Apart from the former Bermuda Bowl team players, other names are likely to join the training camp, but Bert would not disclose the prospective new members.
"We will raise the issue in an evaluation meeting to be held prior to Nov. 14," he said.
With the inclusion of bridge at Salt Lake, the World Bridge Federation (WBF) has scrapped the 2001 IOC Bridge Grand Prix in Lausanne where Indonesia would have defended the title it won in 2000.
Indonesia rolled over the world's best teams, such as Poland, Norway, Italy and the United States to win the six-team IOC GP in Lausanne last year.
However, it was unable to maintain its winning form at the Bermuda Bowl in Paris last month. The Venice Cup, the women's version of the world's bridge championship was held simultaneously at the same venue in Paris.
The Indonesian men's team, spearheaded by the long-time pair of Henky Lasut/Eddy Manoppo, managed to reach the quarterfinals, but fell short of going further after being edged out by Norway.
It was the second time in succession Indonesia fell to the same opponent after the 2000 edition in Bermuda.
Norway continued its charge before losing to U.S. I, who met defending champions U.S. II, in the finals. Meanwhile, the title in the Venice Cup went to the German team.
The other two pairs on the Indonesian team included Denny Sacul/Franky Karwur and Santje Panelewen/Robert Tobing.
Indonesia's failure in Paris was due partly to a wide gap in skills between Eddy/Henky and the rest of the team, an issue Bert said would be useful in regard to the upcoming Salt Lake Games.
The gap was apparent when the final rankings were announced in Paris which put Eddy/Henky in seventh among the world's pairs with Denny/Franky well back in 43rd and Santje/Robert missing an inclusion.
As the champion of the IOC Grand Prix, Indonesia will be traveling to Salt Lake City aiming to continue its dominance in the competition.
"Because the grand prix has been abandoned, we consider the Olympics, as the replacement, and will defend our title there," Bert said.
The bridge competition in Salt Lake City, which will feature eight teams, is scheduled for Feb. 2-6.