A lesson in promoting chess
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
PANJIM, DEC 4
Nearly 300 students from KG to Std X displayed excitement participating in the 2-day chess championship organised jointly by Cortalim Chess Club, Manipal Hospital and Panjim Chess Academy which got underway at Don Bosco High School, here on Saturday.
Dr Peter Carvalho, secretary, Cortalim CC and Resident Medical Officer, Manipal Hospital was a picture of extreme satisfaction that such a large number of children were being provided a platform to learn and enrich their game.
For many of them, world champ Ivana Maria Furtado’s very presence itself was a great motivating factor and there were those lucky 20 with whom she played simultaneously.
“The championship is aimed at initiating children into chess and moreover to provide an opportunity to meet with the best since the toppers mostly play in selection events,” disclosed Dr Carvalho.
“It is important that the players come across the best so as to improve on their game. And this event, is aimed at providing that exposure,” reasoned out the Cortalim-based medical practitioner, whose objective has been to promote chess in Cortalim and surrounding areas.
“You need to invest finances to get strong players with ratings. To conduct an event of such a magnitude we had to purchase 200 new boards, 38 digital clocks and 25 manual clocks. Then there are prizes, trophies and arbiters fees. The total expenditure works at to over Rs 1 lakh,” disclosed Dr Carvalho, who pointed out that an ardent fan of Ivana, who preferred to remain anonymous, had provided some finances to conduct the event.
Bambolim Chess Club has registered the largest number of players at 48 and they will be entitled to some chess boards and clocks. Our Lady of Perpetual High School, Cortalim, deputed the largest number of children at 58.
The first three rounds were played today while the remaining rounds upto the ninth being played on Sunday till 5.30 p.m. There are four groups – KG to Std I, Std III to IV, Std V-VII and Std VIII-X.
Earlier, the championship was declared open by Manipal Hospital consultant oncologist Dr Shekar Salkar and Dr Pankaj Mahtre, specialist in nuclear medicine.
Sangam Diukar, Superintendent of Goa Customs from Arpora who has been selected as assistant manager of Indian athletics team for Paralympics Asian Games in Guangzhou, China from December 8-20 by Paralympic Committee of India. Sangam was an outstanding Goa athlete who won the Khan Bhaddur Trophy for setting the 800m record at Bombay University athletic meet in 1976 in Mumbai. He won the gold in 800m and a silver in 1500m at all-India Civil Services and all-India Revenue meets. He represented Goa at several nationals seven times, being captain of the Goa squad twice. He was also a regular member of the reley teams of Bombay University, Central Railways, Customs and Goa State teams.
