Two senior pairs secure slots in training center
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The senior bridge pairings of Taufik G. Asbi and Robert Parasian Tobing, and Stefanus Supeno and Santoso Sie have secured places in the national team's initial lineup.
The two pairs were the winners and runners-up respectively in the just concluded national selection round here, which featured 26 pairs in the preliminary round.
Taufik and Robert have been paired for around two years and have experience in international tournaments. However, Robert conceded that he could have made a slipup given the high degree of competition.
"It was really tough out there," Robert told The Jakarta Post here on Tuesday. Taufik/Robert's latest feat as part of the national team was their role in helping the country take the silver in the 2002 Rosenblum Cup in Montreal, Canada.
During the selection tournament, Taufik/Robert registered 375 points from 16 wins and eight losses, while Stefanus/Santoso scored 372.5 points from 16 wins, seven losses and one draw.
Bert Toar Polii, deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (Gabsi), said the two pairs would enter a training center along with perennial members Eddy Manoppo/Henky Lasut and Denny Sacul/Franky Karwur.
The three-week training session is scheduled to begin on April 3, and at the end of which the four will be pitted against each other for three places in the team.
The team will then travel to the Pacific Asia Bridge Federation (PABF) championship in Manila in June, which serves as a qualifying round for the Bermuda Bowl in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in November.
"We will fight for the three places provided at the tournament," said Bert.
The championship will involve participants from the countries grouped in Zone 6. This zone comprises Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan, Macau and South Korea.
Indonesia will also send a female team to the Venice Cup and a veteran team for the Seniors Bowl in Monte Carlo, also in November, while a junior team will head to Beijing in late June.
These three teams will also have to qualify through the Manila meet.