India Dominates Semifinals at the 5th Bonus Asia Cup Bridge Championships

India has made a remarkable showing at the 5th Bonus Asia Cup Bridge Championships, with three teams advancing to the semifinals. The Men's, Women's, and Seniors divisions are all represented as they prepare for crucial matches against formidable opponents. With skilled players and a strong performance in the Swiss league, India is poised to compete for the championship title. The semifinals are set to take place on June 26, followed by the Grand Finals on June 27. Read on to discover more about India's journey in this prestigious tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 26, 2026, 02:55 IST

India's Strong Performance in Bridge Championships

Panaji (Goa) [India], June 26: The host nation, India, has successfully advanced three teams to the semifinals of the 5th Bonus Asia Cup Bridge Championships. This event is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and supported by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), taking place at the Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon.

As per a recent announcement, the teams India A (Men), India A (Women), and India B (Seniors) have all qualified for the knockout rounds, competing in a format that pits the first against the fourth and the second against the third. The Indian delegation includes several skilled bridge players such as Hemant K. Jalan, Sukamal Das, Rajesh Dalal, Jitendra Solani, Anil Padhye, and Raju Tolani. Notably, Team India B from the Seniors division enters the knockout stage as the top-ranked team after finishing first in the Swiss league standings.

In the semifinals, India B will face Japan on Table 31, while Australia will compete against Bangladesh on Table 32. A win in this semifinal would propel India B into the championship final, keeping their title hopes alive. Meanwhile, India Seniors A concluded the round in sixth place with 142.70 VPs after a tough final day.

In the Men's Division, China topped the standings with 218.31 VPs, followed closely by Hong Kong China A at 196.72. India A secured third place with 186.47 VPs, setting up a semifinal match against Hong Kong China A on Table 2. Bangladesh B narrowly surpassed India B for the fourth qualifying spot with 173.66 VPs compared to India B's 172.03. India now anticipates a critical semifinal against the formidable Hong Kong China A team, with a spot in the final on the line.

In the Women's Division, defending champions China finished first with 124.66 VPs, followed by Indonesia at 108.23. India A placed third with 105.39 VPs, while Japan secured the fourth position with 89.14. The semifinals will see China face Japan on Table 11 and Indonesia take on India A on Table 12, as the Indian women aim to maintain their strong performance.

In the Mixed Division, China A (169.23) and China B (163.02) claimed the top two spots, with Hong Kong China A (155.43) and Australia A (141.14) rounding out the semifinal lineup. India B finished fifth with 135.90 VPs, just missing out on qualification despite a strong final segment victory. India A ended the competition in eleventh place.

With three Indian teams competing in the Men's, Women's, and Seniors events, the host nation is well-represented as the championship progresses to the knockout stage. All semifinal matches across the four divisions are scheduled for Friday, June 26, in three sessions (09:30-11:45, 12:45-15:00, and 15:20-17:35), with the Grand Finals set for Saturday, June 27.