KARACHI: Pakistan’s men’s and women’s teams are struggling at the World Bridge Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil but Zonal Champions Pakistan Seniors are placed fifth in Seniors Bowl, according to message received here on Tuesday.

The seniors, who were crowned champions at the Bridge Federation of Asia and Middle East (BFAME) in Jordan in July, are showing great form and are placed fifth in 22-team competition after six rounds.

The seniors team, comprising Tariq Rasheed Khan, Parvez Mirza, Rashid-ul-Ghazi, Khalid Javed, Saeed Akhtar have shown impeccable form by winning five of their six matches so far.

Pakistan seniors beat Uruguay 22-8, stunned fancied Australia 18-12, and Brazil 20-10, India 16-14, and South Africa 21-09 and lost their lone match to USA-I 13-17. They have mustered 110 victory points.

England are leading in Seniors Bowl with 121 VPs followed by Egypt 117, Poland 116, and USA-II 116.

In the Bermuda Bowl Open team contest Pakistan have suffered heavy defeats but managed to shock BFAME Zonal Champions and arch-rival India18-12.

The Pakistan open team, including captain Masood Mazhar, Nawab Yousuf Talpur, Hasan Jawad, Mirza Shouq Hussain and young duo of Mubashir Puri and Khaled Mohiuddin started badly when Bulgaria bulldozed them 25-5 in the opening match.

They then lost 24-6 to Netherlands, were blanked 25-0 by Germany, beaten 16-14 by Chile but they defeated Mexico 23-7.

The Open team is currently ranked 18th with 66 VPs in 22 contests. Holders Norway are on the top with 126 VPs, Bulgaria are placed with 121 and the Netherlands are at the third spot with 116 VPs.

In the Women’s Venice Cup, Pakistan were off to sterling start beating USA-II 16-14, Jordan 21-9 and New Zealand 19-11.

However, Rubina Agha’s team, which includes Zeenat Azwar, Qudsia Doosa, Neelofar Aslam, Najam Abid and Fizza Adamjee received 2-25 drubbing at the hands of India, went down 13-17 to Australia and were outplayed 6-24 by Egyptian team. —APP