The Bridge Federation of India is proud to announce that India B won the Silver Medal in the Senior Teams Championship at the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championships 2026, held in Goa from 21 to 27 June 2026.
The Indian Senior team produced an outstanding campaign, finishing top of the league stage before progressing to the knockout rounds. In one of the most dramatic matches of the championship, India B defeated Japan 126–125, winning the semi-final by just 1 IMP and securing a place in the Gold Medal Final.
🥈 India B – Senior Teams Silver Medal
The Indian team comprised:
- Sukamal Das
- Hemant Jalan
- Jitendra Solani
- Anil Padhye
- Rajesh Dalal
- Raju Tolani
The team was guided by Coach & NPC Anal Shah.
A Remarkable Road to the Final
India B entered the knockout stage as the top-ranked team in the Senior league, demonstrating excellent consistency throughout the qualifying rounds.
In the semi-final against Japan, India faced a 22-IMP deficit going into the final segment. The team produced a remarkable comeback, winning the final segment 56–40 to overturn the deficit and secure a dramatic 126–125 victory. The one-IMP margin was the closest result of the championship and sent India into the Gold Medal Final.
In the final, India B faced Australia. After a hard-fought contest, Australia secured the Gold Medal, while India finished with a well-deserved Silver Medal.
🏅 Senior Teams Podium
🥇 Gold – Australia
🥈 Silver – India B
🥉 Bronze – Japan
Australia’s victory gave them the Senior Teams title, while India’s Silver represented a significant achievement on home soil.
Significance of the Achievement
India’s performance was one of the highlights of the country’s campaign at the 5th Asia Cup. The Senior team’s ability to finish first in the league stage and then recover from a substantial deficit to defeat Japan in the semi-final demonstrated remarkable determination, composure and competitive spirit.
India ultimately concluded the championship with three Silver Medals and one Bronze Medal across the Team and Matchpoint Finals.
The Bridge Federation of India congratulates Sukamal Das, Hemant Jalan, Jitendra Solani, Anil Padhye, Rajesh Dalal and Raju Tolani, along with Coach & NPC Anal Shah, on this outstanding international achievement.