Goan chess player Bhakti Kulkarni will receive the prestigious Arjuna Award, the country’s second-highest sporting honour for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2022, from President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on November 30. Bhakti stated that she was elated upon being a designate after being in the field since the age of four and the award has given chess the limelight it deserves in Goa. She added that the award is just the beginning and will go on to play the nationals in Dec. Bhakti is hopeful that the award will inspire young children from Goa to pursue chess.
The International Master Bhakti Kulkarni is the first woman from the State to receive the award. Only two Goans have been bestowed with the Arjuna Award earlier, Brahmanand Shankhwalkar and Bruno Coutinho both footballers.
