Panaji

Defending champions India will begin their campaign at the 5th Bonus Asia Cup Bridge Championships, which gets underway on Sunday in Goa, bringing together nearly 300 players and officials from 46 teams representing 16 countries and territories.

The tournament, to be held at the Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, will feature participants from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and host nation India.

India heads into the competition with confidence after an impressive showing in the previous edition. The country's senior team secured the gold medal, while Indian pair Puja Batra and Asha Sharma emerged victorious in the women's pairs category.

The Indian contingent includes several Asian Games medallists and national champions. However, they are expected to face strong challenges from Hong Kong China, the reigning men's team champions, and Indonesia, which currently holds the women's and mixed team titles.

The championship schedule includes qualification rounds in the men's, women's, mixed, and senior team categories from June 22 to June 25. Semi-finals will take place on June 26, while the tournament will conclude on June 27 with the finals of both team and pairs events.

The opening ceremony will be attended by Pramod Sawant, along with Franck Riehm, industrialist H M Bangur, and senior representatives from the Sports Authority of India, the Asia Pacific Bridge Federation, and the Bridge Federation of India.

BFI president Prasad Keni described the event as the “Asian Games of bridge,” highlighting its status as the continent’s premier competition conducted under the guidelines of the World Bridge Federation.

“This is a proud occasion for India as we host some of Asia’s finest bridge players,” Keni said.

WBF president Riehm praised India's growing influence in the sport, stating that hosting a championship of this scale reflected the country's increasing prominence in international bridge.

“Bridge is more than a game—it is a mind sport that helps people remain mentally active and sharp,” he said.

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In the previous edition, Hong Kong claimed the men's team crown, while Indonesia dominated the women's and mixed team events. India’s senior team, comprising Hemant Jalan, Kamal Mukherjee, Subrata Saha, Sukamal Das, Badal Das, and Pronab Bardhan, captured the senior category gold medal.