07-Jul-2009 128
Woman International Master (WIM) Padmini Rout made Orissa proud again by winning the gold medal in the girls’ category of the Asian Junior Chess Championshipat Colombo (Sri Lanka) today.
Second seed Padmini beat Sri Lanka’s Navindi Abeywardana in the ninth and last round to top the table with 8.5 points. It was an authoritative performance by the Bhubaneswar girl, who clinched the title without conceding a defeat. She won eight games and drew the penultimate one against compatriot Bhakti Kulkarni.
This was the seventh international title for the 15-year-old Padmini, who earlier won the Asia under-12 and Commonwealth under-14 crowns twice each and Asia as well as World under-14 gold once each.
India achieved a golden double in the the Colombo championship as International Master Ashwin Jayaram too bagged gold in the open category with eight points from nine rounds.
India also collected two bronze medals with International Master MR Lalith Babu (6.5) and Woman Grand Master Soumya Swaminathan (6.5) finishing third in open and girls’ categories respectively.
Padmini’s fellow Orissa WIM Kiran Manisha Mohanty, however, failed to live up to expectations by finishing fifth with five points. Seeded third, Kiran drew her last two games against N Raghavi and Soumya Swaminathan.
In the open category, Anwesh Upadhyaya, the only Orissa player in the fray, finished 15th with five points. In his last two games, he defeated Shreyansh Daklia (India) and then lost to Toufighi Homayoon (Iran).
Padmini`s father Dr Ashok Rout said the Asian Junior gold would boost her confidence. ‘‘From Sri Lanka, she would leave for the Netherlands to play three international open tournaments there from July 10. I hope the Colombo success would help her do well in the Netherlands.’’
Caption: Padmini Rout at the Asian Junior Chess Championship in Colombo.
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