From Ordinary to Extraordinary: The Journey of an Asian Games Gold Medalist
【Office of Academic Affairs News】
“At first, I only joined the club to accompany a friend,” said Bo-Ya Tsai with a modest smile, as she began recounting her remarkable story. What started as a casual decision led her into the world of contract bridge, where talent, persistence, and countless hours of practice transformed her from a campus club member into a gold medalist at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games—and Taiwan’s most decorated female bridge player. Behind these honors lay hours of self-reflection, thousands of reviewed deals, and battles fought not only at the bridge table but also within herself.
The General Education Center encourages self-directed learning courses to invite individuals with rich self-learning experiences to share their journeys. This semester, the course “Special Topics in Self-Directed Learning: Probability and Logic in Bridge” invited Bo-Ya Tsai, gold medalist of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games Mixed Team Bridge Event, to deliver a lecture titled “From Ordinary to Extraordinary.” She shared how, through self-discipline and autonomous learning, she honed her thinking and strategy as a bridge player.
“Success doesn’t come from believing after seeing results,” she said. “It comes from seeing results because you believe.”
Starting from Ordinary: Talent Is Only the Beginning
Tsai admitted that while she showed early promise in bridge, her true growth came from persistence and effort. From studying techniques alone and finding online partners, to building a strong team, her journey was one of quiet perseverance.
“I paid my own way to attend tournaments. I’d get so nervous that my legs shook,” she recalled. “But just like in games, you start from the small bosses and build up experience.”
For Tsai, every match—win or lose—was an opportunity to grow. She learned from mistakes, often reviewing the same situation multiple times until it became second nature.
“Even if you win with a lucky mistake, you still have to review it,” she explained. “You can’t rely on luck—only by facing your own errors can you improve.”
Growth Is Not Linear—It’s a Wave
“Progress comes quickly at first, but the more you grow, the more setbacks you face,” Tsai reflected. In 2016, she competed at the Asia-Pacific Cup in Beijing, but after a disappointing performance, her family urged her to quit. For a while, her confidence wavered—but she persisted.
Through challenges including the pandemic, personal struggles, and competitive lows, Tsai never stopped improving. Each failure became fuel for growth until bridge strategy became her second instinct. She also used reverse visualization as motivation—imagining herself standing on the podium, asking:
“What kind of person wins a gold medal in bridge? What do I still lack?”
From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Playing Her Winning Hand
“I never thought bridge would become an Asian Games event,” Tsai said. “We just wanted to perform well internationally.”
In 2018, bridge was officially included in the Asian Games, and the opportunity she had long prepared for finally arrived. Her team went on to win silver in 2018 and gold in 2023 in the Mixed Team event. Their achievements not only elevated Taiwan’s bridge reputation but also drew increased recognition and support from the Sports Administration.
After the talk, many students eagerly asked questions about learning strategies and motivation. Tsai patiently answered each one, showing the same dedication that defines her play. Through her story, she proved that no dream is too small—only those who prepare can seize their moment.
Her lecture inspired students to view perseverance and self-discipline as the foundations of success. The spirit of self-directed learning took root in their minds, reminding them that, like building one card upon another, persistence turns effort into excellence—and ordinary steps into extraordinary achievements.
Source: National Chengchi University News
Photos courtesy of the General Education Center, NCCU