Pakistan eager to defend bridge title

Senior squad looks to emulate last year’s performance.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s senior squad is looking forward to defending its title at the Bridge Federation of Asia and Middle East (BFAME) Zonal Championship 2013 as they begin their campaign in Ahmedabad, India today.

Pakistan have sent teams in three categories – Open, seniors and women – for the event that will also serve as qualifiers for the Bermuda Bowl World Bridge Championship in September.

The qualifiers feature eight countries and the top two teams from each category will qualify for the Bermuda Bowl, according to BFAME’s official website.

With Pakistan winning the seniors’ category last year, expectations are high this time as well. However, the national team would have to prove themselves against South Asian competitors as they look forward to defending the title.

“We are under pressure to defend our title,” the seniors’ team captain Masud Mazhar told The Express Tribune. “Our aim is to win the trophy, but failing that our goal is to finish at least among the top two teams to qualify for the Bermuda Bowl. It was really special last year when Pakistan finally defeated India after 20 years.”

According to Bridge Federation of India Secretary Arijit Guha, Pakistan would not be the only team for India to watch out.

“It’s a zonal competition so we expect tough competition from all the participants,” said Guha. “It’s not just Pakistan we will be playing against. All the teams who have come to BFAME Championship have gone through a lot of training and practice in the qualifying round.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2013.