Two time World Under 8 Girls Champion Ivana Maria Furtado and National
Junior Girls Champion Bhakti Kulkarni have been recommended for cash awards
totalling Rs. 190,000/- to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs for
performances in the year 2007 by the All India Chess Federation as per the
press release on the official AICF website.
Monginis Brand Ambassador Bhakti Kulkarni will be eligible for Rs. 40,000/-
for the silver medal which she won in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Ivana will be
richer by Rs. 100,000/- for the Gold medal in the World Youth in Turkey and
Rs. 50,000/- for the Gold medal in the Asian Youth in Al Ain, U.A.E. Their
coach Raghunandan Gokhale, India's first Dronacharya awardee, will also get
coaching awards for their performances as well as for the two Bronze medals
of Shalmali Gagare (in Asian and World) and Gold Medal of Shardul Gagare in
the Asian Youth Championships.
This run of success started after both the girls stood third in the national
championships in their respective categories in 2005. As per the new AICF
dispensation and thanks to the confidence they enjoyed with the Ministry,
there were three entries sent officially for both the Asian Youth and the
World Youth and that is where the Goan kids managed to capitalise. The
previous AICF body would generally send only the first placed player in the
Nationals to the World Youth and only the second to the Asian Youth. In this
method, the third place never figured in the teams for official
participation.
'This year, we will apply for even more spots,' said the AICF Vice President
Sameer A. Salgaocar and that way 'there is a chance that 4th placed
Harikrishnan can participate as a selected player in the World Youth and
Asian Youth in the year 2008 itself'. The previous performance of the Indian
kids should stand them in good stead when the proposal is put up to the
Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs and we should all cross our fingers
for young Harikrishnan!
SOURCE: Sameer Salgaocar - Vice President, All-India Chess Federation
