In a significant development, the popular weekly 'Goa Today' has chosen
World Under 8 Girls Champion and Asian Under 7 Schools
Champion Ivana Furtado as 'The Person of the Year' for the year 2006.
This catapults Ivana into a new league of Goan celebrities and will increase
the visibility of Chess in the State drastically. Besides, to be
chosen for this award at such a young age, speaks volumes of Ivana's
accomplishments and her significance for chess and sports in the
tourist friendly state of Goa. Sponsors will definitely take note and there
is sure to be increased funding for chess both from the government and the
private parties in the future.
In his editorial, Editor Vinayak Naik mentions that 'we did not have to beat
our brains one bit to the selection of our title conferee on this occasion'
He then added that 'by virtue of her heroic deeds, Ivana virtually chose
herself'. 'It had to be Ivana,' he finally concluded.
'Ivana, incidentally, joins the galactic group of 21 'Goa's Greats'
decorated by Goa Today previously, her immediate predecessor being none
other than the incumbent Goa Chief Minister, Pratapsingh Rane', Vinayak
states.
SOURCE: Sameer A. Salgaocar, President- GSCA
