Asian Schools Championship – Indian players dominate

by ChessBase
12/28/2011 – Is there a stronger word than "dominate"? Of the 570 players in the fray over 400 were from India, and the dominance of the subcontinent was demonstrated on the result sheet: Indian participants won a total of 33 of the 36 medals at stake (one player, Sanskruti Wankhede, scored 7.0/7 in the U5 section). Our reporter Praful Zaveri sees a shift towards a chess playing nation.

ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024 ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024

It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.

More...

A shift towards a 'chess playing nation!'

Report from New Delhi by Praful Zaveri

It is amazing how one person has changed the nation's perspective towards chess! This is what World Chess Champion, Vishy Anand has done for the the game in India! The country has taken to chess like never before, and this was evident at the Asian Schools Chess Championship 2011, which was hosted by the Delhi Chess Association at the picturesque Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.


The playing venue – Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium

Of the 570 players who had aspired to become the Asian School Champion, 400+ players were from India – a shift towards a 'chess playing nation!'

Scroll the above picture for a panoramic view

This was also reflected in the result sheet, as the Indian participants won a total of 33 (11 Gold, 12 Silver and 10 Bronze) of the 36 medals at stake! Apart from open sections of Under-5 and Under-7, India made clean sweep in all the remaining categories.

The credit for this show goes to the dynamic Secretary General of the All India Chess Federation, Bharat Singh, whose  efforts of hosting international Chess events in Delhi has helped India in performing better and better.


Frantic preparation on the lawn before the start of a round

While there were excellent performance by all the winners in the six categories, the most notable performance was displayed by four-and-a-half-year Sanskruti Wankhede from India, who made a clean sweep of the Under-5 section (chess is getting younger and younger!) with a score of 7.0/7!


Sanskruti Wankhede – the next wonder-girl from India?


With a rival before the start of a game

Winning such an event had not sunk to this girl, who must be wondering why the hordes of photographers are snapping her pictures. In fact, she was disappointed that she only got a small medal, whereas she was expecting a big trophy!

Medal Winners

Under 5 Girls
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Wankhade Sanskruti
IND
7
2
Darsana M S
IND
7
3
Prathivya Gupta
IND
6
Under 5 Boys
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Vallabh Kavi
IND
7
2
Suyash Pai
IND
7
3
Solomko Artur
KGZ
7
Under 7 Girls
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Arushi Kotwal
IND
8
2
Niranjana Aishwarya
IND
7
3
Bristy Mukherjee
IND
7
Under 7 Boys
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Abdusattorov   Nodirbek
UZB
8
2
Kushagra Mohan
IND
3
Lye Lik Zang
MAS
7
Under  9 Girls
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Vantika Agrawal
IND
8
2
Ghosh Samriddhaa
IND
3
Adyasa Mahapatra
IND
Under 9 Boys
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Ram Aravind L N
IND
8
2
Iniyan P
IND
8
3
Rahul Srivatshav P
IND
7
 Under 11 Girls
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Tarini Goyal
IND
7
2
Khushi Dharewa
IND
7
3
Harshita Guddanti
IND
Under 11 Boys
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Abhishek A
IND
2
Barath Kalyan M
IND
7
3
Aradhya Garg
IND
7
Under 13 Girls
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Smaraki Mohanty
IND
7
2
Shweta Priyadarshini
IND
7
3
Shiny Das
IND
Under 13 Boys
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Ghosh Diptayan
IND
2
Aravindh Chithambaram
IND
3
Sidhant Mohapatra
IND
Under 15 Girls
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Madhurima Shekhar
IND
8
2
Nandhidhaa Pv
IND
3
Aarudhra Ganesh
IND
Under 15 Boys
Rank
Name
FED
Pts
1
Girish A  Koushik
IND
2
Gandhi Anish
IND
7
3
Satkar Chirag
IND


A Krgyz player with the traditional hat


Secretary General of the All India Chess Federation, Bharat Singh,
and FIDE General Secretary & Delegate Hisham Al-Taher look on

Here are some unidentified players – our readers will surely supply the names?!

The chief guest for closing ceremony was Mr. Desh Deepak Verma IAS, Director General Sports Authority of India and Mr. Hisham Al-Taher, General Secretary Asian Chess Federation. The other dignitaries who give away the prizes were Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, Vice President Sri Lankan Chess Federation and Shri. Husan H Turdialiev, Co-Chairman of Chess Federation of Uzbekistan.


At Raj Ghat, where the 'Father of the Nation' Gandhiji rests


Our author Praful Zaveri at 'India Gate'

Copyright Zaveri/ChessBase


Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register