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From Left to Right Manuel
Aaron, Harikrishna, Sasikiran, D.V.Sundar, Humpy, Mr.Lev Psakhis |
India Can Win Three
Golds, One Silver In Chess At Doha
By Arvind Aaron Press Officer
- AICF
As the three member Indian chess team leaves for the Asian Games in Doha
tomorrow, D.V.Sundar, Secretary of the All India Chess Federation said we
can win at most three gold medals and one silver medal at Doha. "We have
the strongest possible team," said D.V.Sundar. Lev Psakhis
whose 48th birthday was celebrated a day in advance at the press meet at
the TNCA Club in Chennai said the team was very strong and he shared his
experience to the three players who are very good in individual chess. He
observed that Chinese are good in team competitions and he tried to keep
the good atmosphere for the Indian players in the camp.
Asked how useful the camp was, Sasikiran asked Harikrishna to respond
first and vice cersa. They had an off mike discussion. Humpy replied
saying, "see we are working well as a team, and deciding on a reply!" The
press meet was marked by light comments by the training giant Lev Psakhis.
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Mr.Lev Psakhis cutting his
Birthday Cake |
The events are one combined team event in classical
chess with two men and one women in a team. Then there are two rapid chess
events with one each for men and women. So, nine medals are on the table
for chess and India hopes to win the maximum possible, three gold and one
silver.
Krishnan Sasikiran who is the highest rated player of the Asian Games said
it wont be an advantage being the top seed. In the camp, Psakhis provided
several insights which were useful for my chess. For the first time I
attended a camp from someone other than my father (Koneru Ashok) and I
learnt a lot of endgames, said Humpy. Our coaching involved going
through several classical games said Harikrishna.
Koneru Humpy who will be expected to win the gold in the women's rapid
championship and Indian team in the combined will also hope to win gold.
In the rapid for men, only Sasikiran or Harikrishna can win gold and the
other silver. There is plenty of hope.
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From Left to Right Manuel
Aaron, Sasikiran, Humpy, Harikrishna, Mr.Lev Psakhis |
Our main rivals are China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Qatar according to
the players. The advantage Chinese have in team events is that they always
train together and they perform well in team events observed Psakhis and
Sasikiran. Indians do well in individual events and steps for team spirit
had been taken into account for the first time in this camp.
The camp had a long work schedule revealed D.V.Sundar. The three
players and Psakhis worked from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 3 p.m. to
8 p.m. for all these 10 days. When I walked into the training area the
players were so much involved in their work they hardly looked
out of the board, said Sundar. Asked about his strategy, Sasikiran
said he would be looking deeper into chess rather than look at the medals.
We studied how to approach these team event in the camp said Sasikiran.
The Indian team consists of Krishnan Sasikiran 2675, Pentala Harikrishna
2674, Koneru Humpy 2545 and Manuel Aaron (coach) and Bharat Singh Chauhan
(manager).
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Published on : 28.11.2006
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