Padmini returns home with World jr bronze medal

Padmini Rout, the pride of chess in Orissa, returned home today after winning the girls’ bronze medal in the World Junior (u-20) Chess Championship, which was held at Chotowa-Czarna, Poland from August 3 to 16. She was greeted here at the Biju Patnaik airport by friends, family members and well-wishers.

Padmini rated the bronze-winning performance as the highest success of her career. In the 13-round championship, she finished third with 10 points, winning eight games, losing one and drawing the remaining four. The former World under-14 champion would leave here on August 26 to participate in an open international tournament at Manila, Philippines from August 29.

International Master Debasish Das and Anwesh Upadhyaya, the two other Orissa players competing in the champonship, finished 45th and 48th respectively in the open catetory with seven points each.