Bhakti Brings First Ever National Team Gold to Goa In Chess
Photo: bit.ly/BhaktiKulkarni
Finally a day has come when the big chess teams are calling to Goa for
help! The mighty (all Women Grand masters) Air India women team were in
need of a player on the eve of National Team Chess Championship. The
team manager V.S.Negi requested Asian Under 18 Girls Champion Bhakti
Kulkarni to help them out. It proved to be a wise decision of inducting
a talented rookie in the team.
The petite Goodwill Brand Ambassador of Goa Carbon Ltd responded
positively by taking a flight to Kochi(Kerala) last week and as they say
- the rest is history! Bhakti not only won the Best player award but
helped the star-studded Air India Team win the national Women Team
Championship.
"I am not a Woman Grandmaster yet and was surprised to get a call from
Mr.Negi," said a tired Bhakti after landing in Goa, "and since it was
not compromising the interest of GCL, I said yes." Bhakti was the junior
most player among India's first WGM Vijayalaxmi, Arjuna Awardee Tania
Sachdev and Commonwealth Gold Medallist Meenakshi.
"It was a rich experience for me," Bhakti confided, "I was nervous
whether I could match the standard of my seniors in the team”. But the
student of Parvatibai Chowgule College won all the crucial games. "Her
attacking and quick wins eased the pressure on others and we won all the
matches without any trouble," remarked Negi after the valedictory function.
Bhakti will get free air travel wherever Air India flies nationally or
internationally. "It will give me an opportunity to play more to keep
the Goan flag waving," said the smiling lass who brought the first
National Team gold medal to Goa in history.
Goanet Sports
