Hadi Cup organisers seek youngsters’ participation

KARACHI: Greater emphasis will be laid in engaging young players from educational institutions in the fifth edition of the Hadi Cup Bridge Tournament to be staged later this year, officials said.

The tournament was instituted by Khurshid Hadi, Chairman Mind Sports Association of Pakistan (MSAP) and former President of the Pakistan Bridge Federation (PBF), in the memory of his father.

The tournament is to be organised by the Karachi Bridge Associates (KBA) in the last quarter of the year.

Khurshid himself, in the company of his regular partner Kamal Shoaib, withstood all the challengers to emerge triumphant in the fourth edition in Pairs Championship 2015 which was held here at the Aslam Bridge Hall, National Stadium, last year.

The two veterans, however, opted to donate their prize money to the KBA, which hosted the two-day event, contested by 28 pairs.

The total prize money in the event was Rs100,000.

Many of the leading players of the country, particularly those based in Karachi, featured in all previous editions.

The KBA and the Hadi family have shown eagerness to attract greater number of young players, particularly students who have been taking bridge classes at their educational institutions.

The format and dates of the 5th Hadi Cup have not been finalised yet.

The organisers are assessing the possibility of making the tournament a team event instead of a pairs contest.