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Asian Games: Indonesia upbeat on clinching two golds in bridge
Indonesia has started the 13-round bridge match at the Asian Games, aiming to win two gold medals from the event.
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A big screen displays the Indonesia men's bridge team playing against Hong Kong on Tuesday. It was the first match for Indonesia from a total of 13 rounds in the qualification phase at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
(JP/Stefanno Reinard Sulaiman)
Indonesia’s bridge team kicked off the qualification round by playing in three categories -- men's team, mixed and super mixed teams -- at the 2018 Asian Games at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.
The qualification rounds are set to finish on Aug. 25, which will determine the four best countries. Indonesia will compete against players from 13 rival countries to get to the semifinal.
Indonesia has deployed 24 bridge players in the Games, including the contingent's oldest athlete, multibillionaire Michael Bambang Hartono from the Djarum conglomerate.
The Indonesian Bridge Association (GABSI) has set a target of two gold medals in bridge from the total six golds at stake.
GABSI official from Lampung Alfi Darwin said the target was reasonable as the team had good results from its past three months of tryouts in Bulgaria and the United States.
“It was not just a training camp; we competed against some tough opponents. Hence, we are upbeat that we can clinch at least two gold medals in the Games,” he told The Jakarta Post.
Indonesia won four gold medals in bridge at the 2011 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games from the eight gold medals on offer.
It is the first time bridge has been included in the Asian Games and it is expected to be included in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (yan)
