“Indian bridge needs a Viswanathan Anand to become popular among youth,” says Vinay Desai, coach of the senior national team, comparing it to chess. As the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championship approaches in Goa from June 21 to 27, Desai is optimistic about his team’s performance, aiming for at least two medals. However, despite recent successes, bridge struggles to attract younger players unlike chess.
The Indian squad for the championship includes notable players like Sumit Mukherjee, Rajeshwar Tiwari, Kiran Nadar, and B. Satyanarayana. Desai anticipates winning medals in the Open and Senior Team categories, with high expectations from the Bridge Federation of India (BFI) for a strong showing in the tournament. The sport, although witnessing improvements in skill, faces a challenge in engaging the youth, with most top players being in their 50s or 60s.
Desai acknowledges the difficulty in attracting new talent to bridge, highlighting the lack of a prominent figure like Viswanathan Anand in the sport. He emphasizes the need to break barriers and achieve success in major events to boost the game’s popularity. While the Indian standard is gradually rising due to increased participation of foreign players and corporate sponsorships, the absence of a standout player remains a hurdle for the sport’s growth.
The inclusion of contract bridge in the Asian Games provided a significant boost to the sport, with Indian players securing medals in past editions. Despite missing out on the 2026 Asian Games roster, the Indian bridge community remains hopeful for a comeback in future editions. The upcoming Asia Cup is seen as a pivotal event to reignite interest in contract bridge in India, aiming to overcome its current challenges and attract a new generation of players.
