RI bridge team to revel in Salt Lake challenge

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.