"Cooperation between Goa and Karnataka will benefit players of both states"
The 34th National Sub-junior and 25th Sub-junior girls' chess championship, jointly organized by the South Kanara District Chess Association (SKDCA) and the United Karnataka Chess Association (UKCA) under the auspices of the All India Chess Federation, was inaugurated at Subrahmanya Sabha on Wednesday November 26.
Earlier, addressing the large gathering after inaugurating the event, Sameer Salgaocar (Vice President, All India Chess Federation) said that a chess revolution is taking place in Goa and Karnataka as many tournaments, camps and chess related events have been organised in both the states in a relatively short span of two years. 'At the same time, we have to merge our resources so that the resulting synergy propels emerging players from both the states to achieve new heights', he added.
Four budding champions from Karnataka - Girish Kaushik (Current Asian Under 12 Champion and National Under 11 Champion), Arjun Bharat (World Schools Under 9 Champion), K. Manasa (Nationals Girls Under 17 Bronze medallist) and Nihal Manjunath (Under 13 Bronze Medallist) were felicitated and presented momentoes and cash awards on this occasion. Shrikrishna Udupa of Shimoga, who won the Gold Medal for the Fourth Board in the 13th Olympiad for the Visually Impaired in Greece last month was also honoured at this ceremony.
R. Hanumantha (Secretary UKCA) agreed that both Goa and Karnataka were on the right path and opined that with timely 'assistance' from the AICF, the players of both the states will win greater laurels for the country. He praised the efforts of the organising SKDCA team and its President M.S. Gururaj and singled them out for their 'dedication and total devotion to the sport'.
Thirunavakkarasu, Principal General Manager BSNL, and Sucharitha Shetty, President, Zilla Panchayat, played the inaugural chess moves. The diaries of SKDCA were released by Harikrishna Punaroor, former president, Kannada Sahitya Parishad. Atchutananda Reddy, President - United Karnataka Chess Association, released the calendar of SKDCA. M R Vasudeva, Director, Mangalore International Airport, presided over the function.
M.S. Gururaj (President SKDCA) welcomed the gathering and Mrs. Lydia D'Cunha (Secretary SKDCA) proposed the vote of thanks.
(Report prepared by R. Hanumantha (Secretary UKCA))
