Gupta-Bahuguna pair ahead

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Bridge Association (DBA) building was a hub of intense activity on Saturday as the Rama Jain Memorial Times National bridge championship got underway in the Capital. Now into its 28th edition, the two-day affair will culminate on Sunday.
The event has got continuous support from TOI and has become one of the most recognised events in the country, attracting the best of the bridge players.Y Kamalakara Rao (president, Bridge Federation of India), who is also participating, inaugurated the event. "We are thankful to our sponsors, the Times of India, for their continuous support and helping the sport gain prominence in the country," he said.
RR Gupta, president of the Delhi Bridge Association (DBA) was also effusive in his praise for the support provided by the sponsors and promised exciting action over the next two days. "The players have come here after winning in their respective states and hence the event will see closely fought action," he said. A total of 28 pairs from across the country are in the fray. Leading the pack is Y Kamalakara Rao-Somi Reddy, TK Banerji, Nita Banerji, Sudhir Aggarwal-Vinod Sharma and NK Gupta-Manish Bahuguna.
Last year���s winner Subhash Gupta is missing from the event this year because he is away in Australia playing in the World Championship.
A total of Rs 83,000 is up for grabs out of which the winner will pocket 40,000 while the runner-up will take home Rs 20,000. The TOI is represented by the duo of Vijay Goel and Sunil Bhatia. The audience present at the inaugration observed a minute���s silence for MD Dalmiya, who passed away recently.
Results:
After two rounds held on Saturday, NK Gupta-Manish Bahuguna were leading with an aggregate of 405.39 IMP over Suhas Vaidya-Kaustubh Bendre (396.88 IMP). TC Pant-Namit Sharma were third with 384.27 IMP.