It is not every day that you learn that there is an International Level player in the sector. So, imagine my surprise when I learned that Asha Sharma, who resides at B-31, is representing India at the Asian Games in China and that too in Bridge. I met Asha Ji on her return and was amazed at this petite and elegant 71-year-old lady whose looks and attitude belied her age. I was completely bowled over by her and found myself wishing that I would be as mentally agile as Asha ji when I hit my 70s.
Smiling brightly, Asha ji admitted that it was Bridge that has helped keep her mind sharp. She learned bridge from her husband, late D K Sharma who was the bridge champion of his college, IIT. The couple would play bridge in the evenings with other colleagues & families of UP Jal Nigam, where Mr Sharma was working. Talking of her husband, Asha ji said “He insisted that we should have one sport for physical fitness and one sport for mental fitness for our retired life. So, it is golf and bridge for me.”
Asha ji started playing bridge seriously only in 2005 when her kids had completed their studies and the couple shifted to their residence in Sector 26 Noida when Mr Sharma retired as Chief Engineer, UPJN. The two started reading books and magazines to improve their game and practiced regularly, participating in competitions.
The go-getter attitude helped her beat ovarian cancer in 2013. However, life threw another curve ball at Asha ji when she lost her husband suddenly in Dec 2014. “ My brother-in-law motivated me and said that the best way I could honour my husband was to continue playing bridge as it was a game that he loved so much. Those words gave me the strength to go ahead.”
With renewed vigour, she started participating in bridge competitions and took part in the Summer National Games and Winter National Games. Her crowning moment came when in 2016, she was selected as part of India’s Women team along with her 63-year-old partner Puja Batra. She represented India at the World Bridge Championship that was held in Poland.
As per Asha ji, her most memorable game was when her partner Puja Batra and she won the Gold Medal at the 4th Asia Cup Bridge Championship 2022 at Jakarta, Indonesia in which 11 nations participated. Her teammates Vasanti Shah and Bharati Dey won the bronze medal.
Bridge as a sport was introduced in Asian Games only in 2018 and Asha Sharma was part of the Indian Women team at the recently concluded Hangzhou Asian Games. “All our kit, suitcases, ceremonial dress, uniforms, gear was sponsored by JSW. It was so different from earlier experiences. Things have improved greatly with the involvement of SAI,” she said.
Crediting the support of the PM to advancement of sports, she says the bridge team was backed by Sports Authority of India. “SAI books hotels and tickets for us, arranges transport, they give us gear and offers excellent coaching too. SAI officially took over bridge in 2018 whereas previously everything was self-sponsored and we had to book flight tickets & hotels ourselves. “ The entire Indian contingent was hosted by PM Modi on 10th October by PM Modi and Asha ji as surprised by the level of preparedness of the PM. “He knew the name of each player and the sport they played. It was so amazing to interact with him.”
Asha ji says that Bridge is quite popular with ladies especially those associated with large business houses and she regularly plays with Kiran Nadar, Mangalam Punj, Shailja Tahiliani and others whom she calls keen players. She will be off to play in HCL Bridge Championship on 30th Oct.
Talking of her children, Asha ji said that her son and daughter are settled abroad and she likes to keep busy with Bridge which takes her all over the world.
I had walked in to talk to Asha Maam, India’s Bridge Champion and was now walking out with Asha Aunty. That is one shining example of humility and ever-lasting grace.
