RI downs Australia in bridge c'ship final

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian bridge team won the National Open Team Championship beating the Australian team 117-77 IMP, the Indonesian Bridge Association's spokesman reported yesterday from Canberra.

Ananta Widjaja said the team of Denny Sacul/Taufik Asbi and Sance Panelewen/Franky Karwur defeated the Australian team of Tim Courtney/P. Gill and B. Travis/E. Havas.

Wiranto, the association's chairman, watched the intriguing final in Canberra and was pleased with the Indonesians' results.

"I am satisfied with their good performance since it is their first international meeting.

In the semifinals on Sunday, Indonesia defeated the Polish team 195-112 IMP in four sessions over 16 boards.

The Polish team of P. Gawrys/Lasocki, C. Balicki/A. Zmudzinki and E. Otvosi/M. Borewicz won the Bermuda Bowl in 1991.

Australia defeated the U.S. Greene team 117-99 IMP in the semifinals.

Indonesia's other team, Munawar Sawiruddin/Dadan Naradia and Hasyim Arief/Noldy George, lost to the U.S. Greene team in the quarterfinals 35-150 IMP.

Two hundred and ninety-eight teams from 14 countries are competing in the championship.

"Sacul and his teammates have shown world class style by playing consistently since the beginning of the championship. We are optimistic we can win the tournament," Ananta said.

Ananta said Indonesia's mixed team of Linda Sitompul/Sarce Pontoh, Lusye Boyott/Joice Mandolang and Bert Polii/Memed Hendrawan took second place with 191 VP among the 56 teams. The mixed teams played the Swiss system of 10 boards.

The Ewart Team from Australia won the title with 203 VP while the O'Hara Team also from Australia came third with 185 VP.

In the mixed pairs, Indonesia's Giovani Watulingas/Waya Langkey and Dadan Waladia/Uki Tedjo came second and third with 570 MP and 549 MP respectively. Australian pair T. Omahen/H. Grosvenor won the match with 600 MP.

In the women's team event, Indonesia's Linda Sitompul/Sarce Pontoh and Lusye Bojoh/Joyce Mandolang came fifth of 98 teams.

"The women players have shown rapid progress following their intensive training," Wiranto said.

Wiranto added that the Indonesian women's team would compete in the Asia-Pacific meet in Hong Kong this May. The Hong Kong meet is the qualifier for Zone VI in the coming Venice Cup in Tunisia in October. (lnt)