Host nation India wrapped up its participation in the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championships with an impressive tally of three silver and one bronze medals. The India B Seniors team stood out by securing a spot in the Gold Medal Final after a thrilling semifinal victory over Japan. Despite a tough battle in the championship match against Australia, they settled for the silver.
Led by Coach & NPC Anal Shah, the India B Seniors squad, including Sukamal Das, Hemant Jalan, Jitendra Solani, Anil Padhye, Rajesh Dalal, and Raju Tolani, displayed a commendable performance throughout the tournament. India also clinched a bronze in the Men’s Team Championship, with the India A team making it to the podium.
In the Matchpoint Finals, Savleen Thadani and Sadhana Gupta secured silver in the Women’s Pairs category, while Subir Majumder and Sujit Kumar Bhattacharjee claimed silver in the Seniors Pairs event. The Team Championships saw Australia, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, and China clinching the gold medals in different categories.
Noteworthy victories in the Matchpoint Finals included Wei Ho and Sun Wei Lee from Chinese Taipei winning the Men’s title and Barbara Travis and Lori Smith from Australia triumphing in the Women’s event. India’s success extended to the Friendship Pairs event, with Arun Bapat and Ajay Khare clinching the gold medal and Kamna Sharma and Abhijit Pal securing the bronze.
India’s performance at the championships showcased resilience and consistency, with the Seniors team’s impressive journey to the final and multiple medal-winning displays across various disciplines. With a total of three silver medals, one bronze, and additional accolades in the HCL Friendship Pairs, India solidified its position among the top bridge-playing nations in Asia. The Awards Night in Panaji marked the culmination of a thrilling week of competitive bridge action.
