The New Kids on the Blocks

Now that the HCL tourney has been done and dusted, it is time to take a look at what I think is the greatest positive to have emerged from the event.

The presence of 3 Under-16 pairs brought a whiff of fresh air to our bridge scene. It seemed only fitting that we give them our attention and respect for having taken up this game we hold so dear to our hearts.

Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kaushal Gahrotra for providing these details about the children.

The three pairs were Viha Gahrotra and Prakhar Bansal, Rashee Mohanka and Agastya Khanna, and Ananya Mehta and Jashith Narang. All six are students of the Dhirubahi Ambani International School in Mumbai. They have been introduced to the game of bridge by Anshul Bhatt, who also played one round with each of them during the Swiss League. Agastya couldn't participate in that event as he had to return to Mumbai for an exam.

Here is a short bio about each of the kids

Viha Gahrotra

Viha is the quintessential, thirteen going on thirty. Quiet and organized, she knows her mind and doesn’t shy away from speaking it. With interests ranging from playing the violin and tabla to practicing aerial silk, there is nothing she enjoys more than playing cards with the family. With her calm, collected disposition, strong will and head for numbers, playing bridge has been both fulfilling and challenging. Viha’s only just getting started and, being a quick learner, she is getting better every day. Not one to cowed down by competition, she’s ready, so bring them on!

Prakhar Bansal

Prakhar has always shown interest into games with brain power like chess, Rubik’s cube and now bridge. He has developed keen interest in a very small span of time into bridge and shown tremendous progress. As a parent, we clearly see him more organized and committed towards his studies since he need to balance his time for these activities on top of his studies.

 

 

Rashee Mohanka

Rashee Mohanka is in grade 8, she is a calm child, good in academics and performing arts. She loves playing bridge and started 10 months back , after starting this game now she is more focused and doing well in academics.

 

 

Agastya Khanna

Agastya is a wide-eyed youngster who can either be found with his nose buried in a book or out on the playing fields. With a head for numbers and a gift for strategy, Agastya has taken to bridge like a duck to water. A shy and unassuming lad, with a brain buzzing with deals, he is alway ready to bring his ‘A’ game to the table.
Agastya has thoroughly enjoyed the HCL experience and can’t wait for his next outing on the championship circuit!

Ananya Mehta

Ananya Mehta has this to say about bridge. Personally, what attracted me to the game of bridge was the logic behind each move and strategic false-carding to confuse your opponents. I love to do extra-curriculars that challenge me to think creatively and let me express my self. I learn 5 languages, love to bake and am an avid reader. Bridge has been the best addition to the way I spend time outside school, since in Bridge I get to communicate through another form of bidding. Since being introduced to this game has not only improved my critical thinking and organization skills, but it also helped me meet some of my closest friends.

 

Jashith Narang

Jashith Narang , a grade 9 student, has always had a bent towards logic and numbers so Bridge has been a natural choice for him as it requires both . After attending the Bridge boot camp last year at school , he was naturally drawn to it and with apt guidance from Anshul Bhat, he has made steady strides in his journey to learn bridge . He has been consistently practicing both online and offline going to various clubs in mumbai . In July, he had had the good fortune to participate in the World Youth Bridge Transnational Championship, 2024 in Wrocław , Poland. He had a great learning experience while playing with the best players across the world in under 16 category. Bridge is shaping him into a great multi-tasker who knows understands the importance of time management and the importance of strategic planning.

All of them had a ball at the HCL event. We are sharing some photos of the fun they had

 

 

 

 

Of course, all this would not have been possible without the support of their parents. You can see them, from left to right : Shivani Khanna, Mansi Mehta, Shruti Mohanka, Kaushal Sanghvi Gahrotra, and Rinku Narang.

 

 

 

All these kids, along with a couple of others who played the pairs need your blessings and support, both technical and financial to progress. We hope that all of you would be generous with both.

Well, I do hope, dear readers, that you have found this article of interest. Do share your comments on the article itself. It would give the author(s) a lot of encouragement.

Disclaimer : All opinions are entirely those of the author and are no reflection of the views of the BridgeFromHome Team.