The 5th Bonus Asia Cup Bridge Championships are set to commence in Panaji on Sunday, drawing nearly 300 players and officials representing 46 teams from 16 countries and territories. Defending champions India will compete against the region’s top talent at the Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon. The championship will feature participants from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and host nation India.
India enters the tournament with a strong lineup, bolstered by their success in the previous edition where the seniors team secured a gold medal, and Puja Batra and Asha Sharma clinched the women’s pairs title. The Indian squad, composed of Asian Games medallists and national champions, anticipates rigorous competition from Hong Kong, the reigning men’s team champions, and Indonesia, who hold the titles for the defending women’s and mixed teams.
Qualification rounds for the men’s, women’s, mixed, and senior team championships are scheduled from June 22-25. The team event semi-finals will take place on June 26, with the championship culminating on June 27 through team and pairs finals.
The opening ceremony will be attended by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, alongside World Bridge Federation (WBF) president Franck Riehm, industrialist H M Bangur, and senior officials from the Sports Authority of India, Asia Pacific Bridge Federation, and Bridge Federation of India (BFI).
BFI president Prasad Keni referred to the championship as the “Asian Games of bridge,” emphasizing that the event, which includes men’s, women’s, mixed, and senior categories governed by WBF guidelines, represents the highest caliber of competition.
“This is a proud moment for India as we welcome the finest minds in bridge from across the continent,” Keni stated.
WBF president Franck Riehm highlighted India’s significant potential in the sport, noting that hosting such a prominent event underscores the nation’s increasing influence in global bridge.
“Bridge is not just a game, it’s a mind sport. Playing bridge helps people stay mentally sharp,” Riehm remarked.
In the preceding Asia Cup, Hong Kong emerged victorious in the men’s team championship, while Indonesia dominated the women’s and mixed team categories. India’s seniors team, comprising Hemant Jalan, Kamal Mukherjee, Subrata Saha, Sukamal Das, Badal Das, and Pronab Bardhan, secured the gold medal.
