India are slowly bridging the gap. Their maiden quarterfinal entry in the World Bridge Championships at Estoril is also the first-ever appearance in the quarters by a team from Asia.The team, comprising Kiran Nadar, Subhash Gupta. B. Satyanarayana, Rajeshwar Tiwari, K.R. Venkatraman and Sunit Chokshi, made waves in the Open category (Bermuda Bowl) but eventually lost to the thoroughbreds from Italy.On the way, though, India beat the likes of Argentina, Brazil, the Netherlands and other European sides, including hosts Portugal.‘‘It’s not a shame going down to a team that plays in the professional circuit in the US,’’ said Delhi-based veteran TC Pant.Almost all individuals in the US, Pant said, have private sponsorships. Even in Europe, he says, the players have individual sponsorships and the Italian team at Portugal is sponsored by Lavaza, the coffee chain.Pant attributed the success to ‘‘great teamwork’’ and said the achievement had given the sport a much-needed boost. ‘‘Otherwise, bridge is looked as something of a pastime. It doesn’t get the recognition it deserves and even the government ignores it,’’ he said.Bridge, Pant explained, is a mindgame that requires a lot of concentration. Even qualification is not an easy process. The world championship, held every two years, has qualification rounds played among countries in eight zones with the top two teams each making the grade from Asia and Middle East zones while most teams come from Europe and the North American zones. India had to compete in the qualification round before joining Jordan as the second team from Zone 4.The team selection within India is based on the rankings of a player who consistently accumulates points after playing in the two nationals (summer and winter), Tolani Masters and Life Masters tourneys. The competition gets tougher and tougher before the two Masters meets.The current team was picked on the basis of their rankings and sent to Dhaka for the ‘BFAME’ zonal championships in April. The team finished on top from among six teams, including Jordan, to qualify for the Portugal event. Subhash Gupta, the most experienced Indian player, has the distinction of having turned out for both Canada and India in the Bermuda Bowl.While bridge as a sport is highly advanced in Europe and the US, its survival here is hanging on sponsorship from the HCL — Kiran Nadar is chairman of the software firm — and a few other corporates. If the game has to maintain the momentum gained in Portugal, the financial gap needs to be bridged.
