The last week saw the conducting of the 8th World Youth Team Championships and Wroclaw, Poland.
Unfortunately, the performance of our team was way below expectation, finishing just 5th in the teams and just one pair qualifying for the pairs finals in the form of Sagnik Roy and Soumadeep Ghosh. That the pair didn't do too well in the finals is just incidental and, given that it was more or less a scratch partnership, the performance was extremely good.
However, there were two extremely unseemly incidents that emerged on the last day of the tour that were extremely disturbing. One of them has received broad coverage and I will only touch upon it fleetingly. The other one has not received much attention and, in my opinion, is far more disturbing.
The Passport of Rounak Ghosh
WhatsApp groups were abuzz with the story of how Rounak Ghosh's passport was doused with alcohol by Soham Sarkar. While the act is reprehensible, what is even more perplexing to me is why he chose to do it to his partner's husband. I have not attempted to contact Soham to get his point of view because the issue is quite sordid.
I hope the BFI takes cognizance of this offence, gets to the bottom of the story and takes appropriate disciplinary action against the perpetrator(s?) of this behavior.
Indian Juniors fined Zloty 2,000!
One also came across the news that the Indian Juniors were fined Zloty 2,000 for smoking in 4 rooms in a non smoking hotel.
A number of the members of the Indian junior delegation happen to be smokers. They had requested for smoking rooms but, they had been checked into a hotel which had no smoking rooms. Once they figured this out, at least one pair decided that they would disregard the rule and pay a fine of Zloty 500 if caught.
Unfortunately, it would seem that somebody went to great extents to provide evidence that smoking had happened in four rooms and they would have to pay a fine of Zloty 500 for each of the rooms. The juniors were willing to protest this fine and approach the police to prove this was not correct as the hotel was not forthcoming in providing evidence.
Fortunately, better counsel prevailed and the juniors were told to pay up the fine and return home quietly as the consequences of approaching the law could be quite adverse.
To my mind, this incident is far more serious than the earlier one as it tends to show a serious disregard for the laws of the land and the hotel they were staying in. Representing the country as they were, they should have taken far greater care to avoid deliberately flouting the rules.
I was told by one of the members of this squad that they had followed the same practice in other junior events in the past as well. This is the first time that they have been penalized for this offence.
Far greater malaise
This is unfortunately part of a far greater malaise affecting the bridge players of our country!
In 2019, I had personally observed one of members of the current junior squad leave the playing arena and move far away from the arena between two rounds of a pairs event in order to smoke. When he was reported and fined, he pleaded ignorance of the law that players are not allowed to leave the playing arena during the event!
Last month, I had reported the story of another expert telling the director "Please penalize me for the smoking transgressions of all our team members"
I have heard one of the star players of our country tell me "Penalize me all you want, but I will smoke when I want to"!
It is small wonder then that the juniors feel comfortable taking such actions.
There are many more such instances but they will serve to detract from the point of this post which is
It is absolutely not okay to willfully flout any rules or laws that any organization lays down. When you are representing your country, it is even more unacceptable
Pained as I am about this, I hope the authorities treat this offence in accordance with the gravity it deserves.
Disclaimer : All opinions are entirely those of the author and are no reflection of the views of the BridgeFromHome Team.
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For Soham Sarkar minimum punishment is life time ban. Is BFI taking any legal action against him?
Addiction of smoking, drinking; having external affairs are understood but not when you are qualified for and represent State or country.
We have seen many stalwarts went badly under these things and ruined their own career and life. Few names to quote are like Kashinath Ghanekar, a great marathi actor and sorry to quote, but late Avinash Gokhale, a legendary international bridge player, having alcohol while they were performing on the stage, playing a bridge tournament.
Not only they should be heavily punished by banning them permanently, but the coach, their mentors and associated behind them who select, train and send them to such an international level on behalf of India, our country !!!
Rajeev Deo
Pune.