Asian Games | Indian Bridge team yet to be given official blazers by IOA

09/04/2018

The Indian Bridge team, who won a gold and bronze medals at the Asian Games, is yet to be provided with team blazers by the Indian Olympic Association. The team is planning to stitch IOA logos on their old blazers so that they are eligible for the official photo-shoot scheduled for Wednesday.

The members of the bridge team have been highly neglected by the IOA and not only were they given blazers but they initially were also deprived of official kits to be worn at the event. Debasish Ray, who has been the non playing captain and coach of the bridge team has stated that they have always been victims of such circumstances.

“Initially, we were told that we will not get any kits but later (after sports ministry’s intervention) we got the jerseys but we have not still received the team blazers. The official reception is just round the corner so we have thought of stitching the logos on our own,” he said.

The IOA failed to provide to provide the team with the blazer as well as the kits, but later the sports ministry stepped in and took responsibility for the cost of kits and uniforms. Bridge was introduced at the Asian games for the first time and the Indian team was quite excited for the same, but the IOA initially refused to clear the Indian contingent for the Games.

“Even our departure was uncertain… We got the clearance only three days before the Games, that too after the intervention of HCL chief Shiv Nadar (on the sidelines of HCL International Bridge Championship in New Delhi),” Ray said.

Shibnath De Sarkar and Pranab Bardhan made sure that the team had something to cheer about as they won a gold in the pairs event. But that wasn't the end of the medals as Sumit Mukherjee and Debabrata Majumder secured the bronze in the team event. There was still more to be won as the mixed pairs event also saw India win another bronze medal.

The West Bengal state government announced Rs 10 lakh and a job for another Asian Games gold medallist Swapna Barman but nothing as such has been done for the Bridge team. The Kolkata based bridge team that won at the Asiad expects nothing more than good infrastructure for the team to practice and conduct other tournaments.

“We don’t want money but what we want is a permanent place to play and discuss bridge, in a centrally located area so that players can come easily… It need not be huge but a hall would do,” gold medallist De Sarkar said.

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Asian Games | Indian Bridge team yet to be given official blazers by IOA

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