Pakistan continue to struggle at bridge event

Men’s team languishing at 11th place in 15-team pool.

KARACHI: Pakistan endured a tough day at the 14th World Bridge Game, losing to San Marino with a score of 21-9 Victory Points (VP) as the 10th round concluded in Lille, France.

Pakistan, who have played 10 matches so far, have won only one game and drew one, while losing the other eight to sit at 11th place in the 15-team Group B. The team currently has 130 VPs, while group leaders US have 200 and second-placed France have 185.

“The team is doing well considering the competition,” Pakistan Mind Sports Association President Rashid Malik told The Express Tribune. “We’re competing against the best sides in the world. But the good thing is that players are improving their individual game. We still have five rounds to go so we have a good chance of improving our ranking.”

Pakistan began on Monday with a win against Portugal 20-10.  Tehseen Gheewala  and Hasan Askari teamed up against Juliano Barbosa and Riu Pinto, while Farrukh Liaqat and Junaid Said took up the challenge against Maneul d’ Orey Capucho and Maria Jao Lara.

However, a 16-14 loss against Chinese Taipei before a 20-10 defeat to the US pushed them down a place.

The top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, in the women’s event, Pakistan’s Rubina Agha, Zeenat Azwer, Shamim Mahmood, Farida Ahmed, Dinaz Dubash and Shehla Aziz lost to Italy 25-1 to conclude their 10th round. The women’s team is sitting on 14th place among 15 countries with only 105 points.

Pakistan have sent eight players to the event after the squad was trained by Canda coach Eric Kokish.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2012.