India Wins Four Medals at Asia Cup Bridge Championships

Host nation India concluded its campaign at the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championships in Panaji on Saturday, securing three silver medals and one bronze. The elite squad demonstrated exceptional tactical depth across the competitive Team and Matchpoint Finals, cementing the nation’s rising status in international card sports.

Panaji, June 27 — The Indian national bridge contingent finished its run at the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championships on home soil, collecting an impressive haul of three silver medals and one bronze. The host country delivered strong performances across both the Team and Matchpoint Finals, which concluded on Saturday.

The definitive highlight of the tournament emerged from the India B Seniors lineup. The squad topped the initial league standings before engineering a thrilling 126–125 semifinal triumph over Japan, advancing by a solitary International Match Point (1 IMP).

The veteran collective ultimately earned the Silver medal following a grueling championship showdown against Australia. The prestigious continental tournament operates under the official recognition of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and receives direct operational support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The India B Seniors roster featured Sukamal Das, Hemant Jalan, Jitendra Solani, Anil Padhye, Rajesh Dalal, and Raju Tolani. Under the strategic guidance of Coach and Non-Playing Captain (NPC) Anal Shah, the team sustained a fierce title challenge until the final cards fell.

The host nation captured a bronze medal in the Men’s Team Championship as the India A formation secured its place on the podium. Parallel success followed in the Matchpoint Finals, where Savleen Thadani and Sadhana Gupta clinched silver in the Women’s Pairs division.

The podium run continued as Subir Majumder and Sujit Kumar Bhattacharjee secured an additional silver medal in the Seniors Pairs. Meanwhile, gold medals in the main Team Championships were distributed among rival regional powerhouses, with Australia claiming the Seniors crown and Hong Kong China victorious in the Men’s division.

Indonesia walked away with the Women’s team title, while China locked down the Mixed Teams gold. In the individual Matchpoint Finals, Chinese Taipei’s Wei Ho and Sun Wei Lee clinched the Men’s title, while Australians Barbara Travis and Lori Smith won the Women’s event.

Hong Kong China’s Suk King Chan and Kon Wong took the Mixed title, while Younghong Cheng and Wei Wei Tsao of Chinese Taipei won the Seniors crown. India also dominated the supplementary Friendship Pairs event run alongside the main schedule.

Arun Bapat and Ajay Khare became champions to secure gold in the friendly discipline, registering a top-tier score of 616.64 points. Their compatriots Kamna Sharma and Abhijit Pal grabbed the bronze medal with 586.82 points, capping off the comprehensive home performance.

The collective Indian campaign reflected deep resilience and competitive consistency across multiple distinct bridge formats. The visual spectacle of the final Awards Night in Panaji honored elite minds from across the continent, bringing an intense week of international strategy to a close.

Future Outlook

The multi-medal success at the 2026 championships provides India with critical momentum heading into the next cycle of international bridge tournaments. With regional powerhouses like China, Australia, and Indonesia setting high operational benchmarks, the Sports Authority of India is projected to increase backing for tactical card sports. Industry analysts expect this podium run to inspire broader youth participation and structured training infrastructure across the country.

FAQs

How many medals did India win at the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championships?

India won a total of four medals in the primary categories, consisting of three silver medals and one bronze medal. Additionally, Indian players secured one gold and one bronze medal in the concurrent Friendship Pairs event.

Who represented the India B Seniors team during the tournament?

The India B Seniors squad was composed of Sukamal Das, Hemant Jalan, Jitendra Solani, Anil Padhye, Rajesh Dalal, and Raju Tolani. The team performed under the leadership of Coach and Non-Playing Captain Anal Shah.

Which nations won the gold medals in the Team Championships?

The gold medals were shared among several top Asian bridge nations. Australia won the Seniors division, Hong Kong China took the Men’s title, Indonesia claimed the Women’s crown, and China secured victory in the Mixed Teams event.