RI to meet Denmark in world bridge meet
RI to meet Denmark in world bridge meet
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will meet Denmark in the opening round
of the 5th World Junior Bridge Team Championships on July 8 in
Bali, the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (Gabsi)
announced yesterday.
Twelve teams from 11 countries submitted their entries to the
World Bridge Federation for the Bali championships, for which the
drawing was held in Lisbon on June 25.
Other teams drawn to play their first round are Japan vs USA
1, Italy vs Canada, USA 2 vs Great Britain, China vs New Zealand
and Australia vs Argentina.
In conjunction with the world junior championships, Gabsi will
also organize the 36th National Bridge Championships (July 5 to
7), the Inter-University Bridge Championships (July 12 to 16) and
the World Invitation Championships (July 12 to 16).
"World bridge powerhouses the United States, the Netherlands
and England are among the teams will compete in the invitational
meet," Gabsi chief executive Amran Zamzami said yesterday. Other
teams are coming from Canada, China, Japan, Egypt, India and
Australia, representing their zonal groups respectively.
Amran said the opening match against Denmark will play a
pivotal role for Indonesia's junior players as good results
"usually give a morale boost to the players for their next
matches."
The game will be played over 32 boards, 16 in the first half
and another 16 boards in the second half. Two sessions will be
played each day, during the day and evening.
"Judging from our serious preparation and the skills of our
players and the advantage of being the host, we sincerely hope
Indonesia will do its best to win the trophy," the soft-spoken
Amran said with guarded optimism.
The four events are to celebrate the golden anniversary of
Indonesia's independence.
"I think this is the best time to dedicate something we have
been dreaming of to Indonesia, that is, winning a world
championships in contract bridge," Amran said.
After taking on Denmark, Indonesia's next opponent will be
Australia (round 2), USA 1 (round 3), Canada (round 4), Argentina
(round 5), China (round 6), Great Britain (round 7), Japan (round
8), USA 2 (round 9), New Zealand (round 10) and Italy (round 11).
He said the world bridge quarters are focusing their attention
on the Bali championships scheduled to be officially opened by
the WBF president. The Minister of Youth and Sports Hayono Isman
is also expected to attend.
All the participating players are expected to arrive in Bali
on July 4. (rsl)