By Arvind Aaron

The All India Chess Federation invited GrandMaster Krishnan Sasikiran to visit the venue of the Indian Coaching Camp for World Youth U – 16 Chess Olympiad to be held at Turkey from 16th August to 25th August, 2008 which was underway at Chennai. The Team consisting of IM Adhiban, IM.Sethuraman, IM.Shyam Sundar, FM Prasanna Rao and FM K.Priyadharshan was coached by FM K.Visweswaran and GM R.B.Ramesh. GM.Sasikiran came to the coaching camp on the concluding day, the 15th August, 2008 along with his wife.   While introducing Gramdmaster Sasikiran to the players, Mr.D.V.Sundar, Hon.Secretary - AICF said that  he found Mr.Sasikiran to be a total team man and prepared to put the Countries interest above him.  As a captain of the Indian team at Doha Asian Games, Asian Team Championship at Vizag and Asian Indoor games at Maccau, he was a great inspiration to his fellow players and motivated them to bring out the best from all of them

Grand Master Krishnan Sasikiran gave a pep lecture for the Indian Youth Olympiad team at the academy run by International Master norm holder K. Visweswaran in Chennai on August 15. Sasikiran who is been playing team events right from the Elista Chess Olympiad of 1998 asked the boys to share ideas with each other and put the team's interest ahead of their own personal glory. Sasikiran asked players to share ideas, have food together and go through the pattern of defeats of their opponents. "If you go through 10-15 games, you can find a pattern and go for them," said Sasikiran.

A pleasant celebration was also held as International Master B.Adhiban who turned 16 on August 15 was greeted on this occasion by Sasikiran, and others. Local chess players WGM Aarthie, IM M.R. Venkatesh, IM R.R. Laxman were also present to greet him and also meet Sasikiran. During the celebrations, the gathering burst into a big applause when Mr.D.V.Sundar, Hon.Secretary – AICF broke the news that Abhijeet Gupta had won the Gold in the World Junior Chess Championship at Turkey – 2008. Earlier Harika had won the Gold in the Women Section with a round to spare.

Among Sasikiran's advice was to have lot of protein connected food and infact suggested to the vegetarians to consider eating non-vegetarian food after long tough games to balance the loss of protein in the body.

The Indian team for the World Youth Olympiad leaves Chennai this evening for Turkey. The team is: IM B. Adhiban, IM S.P.Sethuraman, IM M.Shyam Sundar, FM K. Priyadarshan (all TN), FM Prasanna Rao (Mah). The team will be accompanied by GM R.B. Ramesh as coach. India will be defending its title they won at Singapore in August 2007.

Home                                                         Published on 16^th August, 2008