![]() It sharpens so many skills for the brain.” You have to convince parents that it’s an intellectual game. “The general concept is India is that cards is gambling,” Shah said. In addition to the aging players, Bridge also has an image problem, at least in parts of Asia. ![]() Ong said teams playing contract bridge have been known to - not in competitions - “kick, cough and stomp” to pass signals to teammates. Observers can watch the hands that are dealt - and how they are played - on large television screens filled with red and black symbols for spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. ![]() The game presents no language barriers, using universal terms from English like “no trump, slam, pass” and so forth. Many hold a fan-like spread of cards in one hand, and a few fiddle with reading glasses in the other.Įach table has a screen running diagonally - top and bottom - to keep players from passing signals to teammates. Four players each fill dozens of small tables - card-table size, of course. A nearly silent atmosphere pervades the space. The bridge venue is set up on the 12th and 13th floors of a Hangzhou office building. I tried to refuse her, but she was very strong.” I was very unhappy because I wanted to play over summer vacation. “She held summer vacation classes to teach students to play bridge,” Chen said. The average age of participants this time is about 50, and the youngest are 22-year-old Vidhya Patel of India and 23-year-old Chen Kuan-hsuan of Taiwan.Ĭhen said she started playing at eight, coerced by her mother, an elementary school teacher. Raheel Ahmed, a radiologist who manages the Pakistan team. “You can play until you’re 100,” said 64-year-old Anal Shah, the coach and non-playing captain of the Indian women’s team. There was an 89-year-old player five years ago at the games in Indonesia, but no octogenarians this time. The oldest is 78-year-old Masood Mazhar of Pakistan, a full 65 years older than 13-year-old Chinese skateboarder Cui Chenxi who won gold on Wednesday. It’s also one of many sports or games you won’t find in the Olympics.Īt least nine players in the field of about 200 are over 70. It’s more staid and deliberate, and of course there’s no premium on physical fitness. Bridge at the Asian Games is the antithesis of flashy and quick.
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