Pakistan wins title in style

By Our Sports Reporter

SANGHINAGAR, JUNE 30. Pakistan came to the event with an `open' mind - not really keen to entertain any predictions on who will be the winner. But once it was assured of a berth in the World championship to be held in Brazil later this August, it focussed itself wonderfully to win the second Sanghi Asia and Middle-East junior bridge championship which concluded here today.

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by a margin of 80IMPs.

However, both the winner and the runner-up will make it to Brazil.

Unlike the rivals who looked at the gift horse in the mouth, Pakistan made most of the chances that came its way keeping cool over the next two sessions of 16 boards and consolidated the position to end up being clear winner.

Being 62 IMPs at the end of third session, the most sober segment of the finals was the fourth, in which Pakistan managed to add another 14 IMPs to its tally giving little chance for Bangladesh to recover. The biggest exchange was 10 IMPs on Board 15 when Pakistan brought home 3NT while defending well to take Bangladesh down one. A similar contract and similar result nullified the advantage on the last deal. Pakistan gained more moral ground with the 36-22 IMP result.

Bangladesh did try all tricks up their sleeve in the final session but to no avail. The end result was another addition of 4 IMPs for Pakistan, though the IMPs shared were higher at 41-37.

With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Bangladesh started kite flying. Its major losses were on Deal 4 (6IMPs) trying a thing game in 4H where Pakistan surprisingly was in 1NT. Bangladesh picked up 7 IMPs on the next only to give away another 6 IMPs doubling a making 3NT two deals later.

On Board 10, Pakistan's Open Room pair got caught in bidding and when their 2C contract was doubled they could do nothing. They were taken three down on this vulnerable board of 800 and Bangladesh's 1 NT score gave it 12 IMPs.

Everything was shortlived for Bangladesh, which never seemed to have learnt any lesson from the earlier four sessions of the finals. Deal 11 was a two-way swing for Pakistan for 6IMPs.

On Deal 12, an over-confident Bangladesh East player redoubled to find himself one trick short for a 7 IMP loss to his team.

Somehow the player in the Open Room thought it fit to pass 1NT doubled by his partner only to find himself red-faced when the contract was made. Another gift of 11 IMPs came by on Deal 14 from Pakistan and two IMPs on deal 15, would not have made any difference in the result but could have salvaged some pride for them, but their rashness once again showed on the last deal when they were taken for 800 in a 5H doubled contract with Pakistan being only in 2S.

Pakistan was led by non-playing captain, Shakeel Chandna with Imran Jaka, Mohammad Amin Hakim, Mohammad Mubashir Puri Sarfraz Ahmed Khan as team members, while Bangladesh was represented by Akthar Rahman Al Eimon, Akthar Rahman Al Mamum, Abdul Latif, Shah Zia-ul-Haque and Rashid-ul-Ahsan.

Special awards were given to Pakistan's Imran Jaka (best bid hand), Arvind Nimbalkar of India (best played hand) and Akthar Rahman of Bangladesh (best defence). Mr. Ravi Sanghi, managing director of Sanghi Industries, which sponsored and hosted the event, in his welcome speech promised to extend support to the sport in the future too. Mr. Sudhir Sanghi of Sanghi Industries hoped that the sport would bridge the gap between the neighbours.

Mr. S.S. Khosla, Chief Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise, thanked Sanghis for extending fullest cooperation in making the event a big success. Mr. P.C. Goenka, President Emeritus, BFAME, revealed that in future the Federation would be hosting zonal inter-university tournaments to promote the sport and as a beginning Andhra would host the first such meet with support from Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Kamalakara Rao, president of BFI, thanked SAAP for agreeing in principle to release a grant of Rs. 1 lakh for organising the event.

Mr. L.V. Subrahmanyam, vice-chairman and managing director of SAAP, gave away the prizes.

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