To The Sports Editors, Kindly publish following news item in your esteemed publication and oblige.
Coming from far behind, GCL goodwill ambassador Bhakti Kulkarni (8) scored an emphatic win over former National Woman Champion Nisha Mohota (7.5) of Petroleum board in the eleventh and final round of National woman challengers championship being played at Thissur(kerala). Goa's National Junior Girls Champion Ivana Furtado(7.5) also qualified by standing 7th. She remained unbeaten with 4 wins and 7 draws. Bhakti whose brilliant efforts in Korea helped Indian win two medals in Asian Indoor Games, was bit tired and started badly losing second round on time. However with everything at stake, Goa's first woman Grandmaster rallied with number of wins towards the end and stood third. It was astounding achievement. Everybody had written Bhakti off," said Dronacharya Gokhale,Bhakti's trainer from Mumbai. She just proved that tired or not tired, Champion is always a Champion-especially in adverse conditions." Bhakti ,however gave full credit to Gokhale sir. " He prepared me thoughrouly everyday when I had lost all hopes midway. But Gokhale sir repeatedly told me not to lose hope and painstakingly picked up perfect strategies for me. This would not have been possible without him". The National Premier Championship will be played at Kolkata from 25th August among top 12 players of the country and both Bhakti and Ivana will represent Goa there.
