KARACHI, Oct 25: Karachi Bridge Association (KBA) is launching junior championship from early next year and will award scholarships to the top team, secretary KBA Shakeel Chandna said on Saturday.

He said Pakistan Bridge Federation (PBF) has assured their full support in promoting the game among students and at the junior level.

Besides holding junior competition, bridge will be introduced in schools, colleges and universities to discover talent at the junior level.

Plans are afoot and booklets were being prepared and they will be distributed among the leading schools from where the KBA hopes to spot talent and groom them and nurture talent for future.

KBA official said after competition at the university level, the winning team, comprising four to six players, will be given monthly stipend for six months.

Shakeel said that these youngsters will be coached and trained by leading bridge players of the country.

He said besides from sponsors and PBF, they were expecting financial assistance from World Bridge Federation (WBF) and claimed WBF vice-president Mazhar Jafri had assured full support for securing funds for junior championship.

He added that they were badly lacking in infusing young blood in the sport which was important for the future of sport.—APP