Parimal Vahalia an aluminous of IIT Kharagpur and Mrs. Vahalia had been coaching and training Bridge players in Ahmedabad for long. In the Indore Bridge tournament 2013, a team of turbaned farmers in traditional dhoti were playing as a team and sparked Parimal bhai’s curiosity. He visited the village and held the first Bridge camp with a 110 enthusiastic participants. It was a heterogeneous mix of old and young, male and female. They stayed in this village without TV/newspapers but never had to bother about food and hospitality. Later on they learned that each house hold took turns to cook for them.

In 2013 about 20 odd players (seniors & Juniors) came to participate in winter national in Ahmedabad and the Vahalias hosted them in their home.

Kalpana and Vidya have been playing as partners for many years. 

They had decent performances in the Word Championships in Lyon in 2017, in China in 2018 and in Croatia in 2019 they were ready for the 2022 Championship in Salsomaggiore Italy . 

However, they have to be focused and be at their mind full best when facing off against the best in the world in the under 26 category. From mid-July Parimal bhai had an intensive 2-week preparation camp. Not only was bridge tactics sharpened but mental toughness and the desire to win was instilled in the girls. They knew too that it was the golden chance to prove their excellence in Bridge and thus convince their families that they could have an independent successful life. In rural India there is still immense pressure for young girls, however talented they are, to be married off at the earliest. 

After leading the pair event almost right through, Kalpana and Vidya had a below average last session to finish 2nd and bag the Silver medal- Creditable indeed. The next day in the open Inpidual event with more than 150 participants, Kalpana finished first among the Girls and won the Gold Medal for her effort. Kudos to Vinay Desai the coach and manager of the youth brigade too. 

The following picture features the triple world Champion Anshul Bhat and the medal winning boys team too.