Savleen Thadani, a 50-year-old bridge player from Kapurthala, Punjab, has won a silver medal at the seven-day Asia Cup Bridge Championship 2026 held in Goa. The tournament, organized by the Bridge Federation of India, took place from June 21 to 27, featuring participants from 13 countries including India, China, Japan, Singapore, Bangladesh, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the UAE, Indonesia, and Australia. A total of 46 bridge teams competed in the event.
Women's Pairs Event Performance
Thadani, partnering with Sadhana Gupta, represented India in the women's pairs event and secured the runner-up position with 519.11 points. Their performance contributed to India's two silver medals in the pairs events; the other silver was won by Subir Majumdar and Sujit Kumar Bhattacharjee in the seniors' category with 303.60 points. The Indian team's achievements were hailed as a breakthrough, with India securing podium finishes against dominant East Asian competitors.
Family Support and Background
Charanjit Kochar, Thadani's father based in Kapurthala, expressed pride in her accomplishment. He noted that Savleen was a brilliant student since childhood and has been a keen bridge player for many years. It took her eight years to master the sport, and her exceptional prowess was evident during the tournament. Kochar remarked, "Bridge isn't everyone's cup of tea, and not everyone understands it. But Savleen picked it up quickly and spent years polishing her game."
Born and brought up in Kapurthala, Thadani currently resides in Gurgaon. She first took up bridge during her membership at the Gymkhana Club, Delhi, through her in-laws. Her father-in-law was a Brigadier. Kochar added that her husband, Kailash Thadani, was very supportive and helpful during her bridge journey.
Demands of the Game
Kochar described bridge as a demanding card game and a mind sport requiring extraordinary patience, discipline, and strategic thinking. Players had to navigate 56 games, playing from 9 am to 6 pm daily. "But Savleen accepted the challenge and embraced it with absolute dedication," he said. Thadani attended Welham Girls' School in Dehradun at age seven or eight for her education and pursued higher education in Chandigarh. In Gurgaon, she continues the spirit of sports inherited from her family.
