Date:21/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/21/stories/2004092108372000.htm

Sport - Bridge

He'll be picking jokers this time

KOCHI, SEPT. 20. For a change, he will be picking kings, queens and jokers this week. Asantha de Mel, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board's selection committee chairman and a former Test fast bowler, will take part in a new international bridge tournament which begins at Kumarakom on September 24.

Three teams each from Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu and six from Kerala will figure in the three-day Sethubhandanam tournament, organised by the Kerala Bridge Association. Competition will be held in the team of four duplicate and master pairs events at the Kottayam Club Annexe at Kumarakom.

"This will be an annual event and each of the three teams (Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala) will host the tournament every year. Sri Lanka will host the tourney next year," said the Kerala Bridge Association secretary Robins Jacob here on Monday.

Bandula, Srihari (both Sri Lanka), R.V. Subramaniam (TN), S. Rajeev, Shaju V. Mathew, Prof. K.M. Mathew (all Kerala) are some of the prominent players who will figure in the event. — Our Principal Correspondent