Goa's wondergirl and World Under 8 Champion Ivana Furtado completed her
mission in grand style by beating Dharsha Raja Jawahar of Singapore and in
the process bagged her second Gold medal in the Team Category of the Asian
Schools Chess tournament which concluded in Singapore today. With this
stupendous
feat, Goa's tally of International Gold medals has now been boosted to a
staggering FIVE Golds in the year 2006 alone! Ivana finished with a perfect
7 out of 7 score and earned great accolades from one and all present in the
process.
Speaking from Singapore, Ivana's coach Dronacharya Awardee Raghunandan
Gokhale mentioned that "Ivana played brilliant attacking chess throughout
the tournament" and highlighted in particular her game against archrival
Revita Samantha Glo of the Philippines in the 5th round which was crucial in
determining the eventual winner. "Ivana showed no nerves whatsoever and
played resolutely with full knowledge of her impending victory" he stated.
Ivana along with Goa's other Chess stars - Bhakti Kulkarni, Cyrus Perreira,
Niraj Saripalli and Anurag Mhammal - will now be felicitated at the AGM of
the Goa State Chess Association on the 7th of January and they will also be
given a cash award.
For all those interested in receiving the Chess Prodigy, she will be
arriving with her father Eli Furtado at Dabolim Airport at 8.30 am on
Christmas Day to already add to the festive spirit prevalent in the Goan
chess fraternity!! (ENDS)
SOURCE: Sameer A. Salgaocar, President- GSCA
