KARACHI, Oct 31: An 18-member Pakistan bridge contingent left for Monte Carlo (Monaco) on Friday to compete in Bermuda Bowl World Bridge Championship to be held there from Nov 3-15.

President, Pakistan Bridge Federation (PBF) Rehana Saigol is heading Pakistan squad.

Pakistan earned the right to figure in the prestigious event after winning Bridge Federation of Asia and Middle East (BFAME) in Jordan (Amman) in August.

While Pakistan will be taking part in their seventh Bermuda Bowl open event after a grand performance in the championship at Florida (USA) in 1986 where Pakistan went down to host USA in the final.

Abdul Rehman Allana will lead Pakistan open team. Jan-e-Alam Fazli, Sultan Siddiqui, Rashid Jafer, Sarfraz Khan and Tehseen Gheewala are the other members.

PBF President Rehana Saigol, Roshan Bukhari, Qudsia Dossa, Samia Rasheed, Rubina Agha and Zeenat Azwer are members of the ladies team.

Tariq Rasheed Khan, Rashid-ul-Ghazi, Hasan Jawed, Yousuf Talpur and Abdul Khaliq will represent Pakistan in senior competition.

Pakistan is drawn in upper half and USA, Italy, Indonesia, China, Poland are their strongest opponents in the open event.

Pakistan underwent special training session under the guidance of Munir Ataullah and are in strong frame of mind for this gruelling meet.

Overall 22 countries from across the globe are taking part in the 13-day competition.

After the round-robin league contest top eight nations will qualify for the quarterfinal.—APP