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(ARCHIVE) Vol. Vol. XVIII No. 14, november 1-15, 2008
Will Tamil Nadu bridge the gap?

The 1st World Mind Sports Games took place in Beijing in October, an event more or less ignored by the Indian media. Just after the Olympics, the Chinese capital played host to the world’s best players from five mind sports, Bridge, Chess, Go, Draughts and Xlangqi (Chinese chess), which are very popular in the People’s Republic of China. This first-ever mind sports event was organised by the International Mind Sports Association.


The women’s Bridge team to the World Mind Sports Games.

India participated only in the Bridge events, sending teams to participate in the open, youth and women’s events. There were six Bridge players from Chennai, two of them, Sherein Ryan and Lakshmi Chari, were part of the six-member women’s team. Three players for the under-26 tournament and a senior player for the open event were the others selected from Chennai. All this was without the support of any real Bridge infrastructure in the city.

The women did not have it easy. While both the under-26 and the open teams got sponsorships to cover their airfare, stay and food in Beijing, the women’s team had to scramble around to raise the funds to attend the event.


Sherein Ryan with the Indian flag in Beijing.

“We were told at the last moment that we were not getting free accommodation. It was a horror story,” recalls Sherein. She is not complaining, but just feels dismayed that Bridge as a mindsport is not taken seriously in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Sports Authority does not seem to view Bridge as a game worthy of support. On the other hand, the Sports Authority of Karnataka gave Rs. 45,000 to each of its players to cover airfare, visa and insurance. They also took care of food and accommodation. Karnataka has also given dedicated space for Bridge in the Koramangala Indoor Stadium. Kerala has promised space to set up a Bridge Academy. In Bombay there is space for Bridge in the Andheri Sports Complex.

“In Chennai, we are forced to play in the clubs,” say the bridge players. Both the Mylapore Club and the T’ Nagar Social Club have allowed non-members to attend classes and play in their space, which is a major help, they add. According to Sherein, Bridge is thought of as just a card game in the State. “That it requires brain power and is more difficult than Chess because it’s a partnership game hasn’t quite registered,” she points out.

In Europe and the US, Bridge is taught in colleges. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are committed Bridge players and sponsor training of young players. Gates funds a website for people to play Bridge. In Mumbai, Bridge is taught in Mithibai College. In Chennai, if you mention Bridge the education authorities shudder because they think it’s a card game which corrupts youth.

The women had to pay for their own coach and did not have the benefit of coaching camps which the Bridge Federation of India sponsored for juniors. But the Chennai women did manage to find sponsors at the last moment, braved their way to Beijing and did quite well. They were placed midway in a tournament where 70 countries participated.

Sherein hopes for things to improve by 2010, when the Bridge Olympiad will be held in St. Petersburg.

 

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