Patient bridge players eye Games medal, recognition

The sport of bridge might have a niche following in the country but it certainly can bring a clutch of medals from the Asian Games, commencing August 18 in Jakarta and Palembang.

The 24-member contingent will compete in six categories – men’s team, mixed team, supermixed team, men’s pair, women’s pair and mixed pair. Kiran Nadar, a key member of the squad who will compete in two events, is optimistic that the mixed team event could be a medal grosser at the continental games where bridge is making it maiden appearance.

“We have a good chance but will not make any prediction on gold. If we win gold, we’ll be lucky,” said Nadar, who had led the Indian bridge team to victory in the fifth Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championship in Gold Coast this year.

Nadar will pair with Satyanarayana Bachiraju in the mixed pair event and feels they stand a good chance of bagging a medal.

The veteran player feels the sports ministry has given the team a chance to compete and a “gold will be a tremendous achievement” for the growth of the sport in the country.

“The fact that the team is going to Jakarta has given the sport recognition,” she said, adding that the Bridge Federation of India “hadn’t done enough”.

“Initially the Indian bridge (team) was not on the Asian Games list. I made a plea to (former Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh. The fact that the team is going to the Asian Games is a big thing,” she said.

Nadar feels if India does well at the continental games, the achievements should be rewarded by the government. “We should also be recommended for the national sports awards, like the Arjuna Award.”

She feels that Indians should change their mindset about the sport.

“Parents feel that since it’s a card game, it shouldn’t be taught to children. If parents encourage their children to take up chess, then what’s wrong with bridge. The sport enhances mental capability like chess and I’m seeing a big change in the mindset of the people now.

“In China, it’s part of the school curriculum, that’s why there are more than a million children in the country playing the sport and making a splash in international events,” she said.

We have a good chance (of winning medal) but will not make any prediction on gold. It is a great opportunity for the team to compete at Asian Games. KIRAN NADAR, Member of bridge squad