Bhakti becomes Goa”s first International Woman Master
PTI 03:10 PM,Oct 13, 2010
Panaji, Oct 13 (PTI) Bhakti Kulkarni has become the first Goan to bag the International Woman Master (IWM) title, awarded by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) at its annual meeting at Khanty Mansiysk (Russia).
Bhakti had scored seven norms for IWM in the last two years when it was mandatory to score just three, according to a release by Arvind Aaron, Press Officer, All India Chess Federation. A player must reach the rating of 2200 to be eligible for the IWM title. Bhakti had crossed that milestone long back and is enjoying a rating of 2294 with the first position in her age group in the Under-18 Asian category.
“I consider this as not my destination but one of the stepping stones for my future achievement,” said Bhakti, the brand Ambassador for Goa Carbon. “I am grateful to Srinivas Dempo, Goa Carbon and my coach Raghunandan Gokhale for the achievement,” she said.
The newly appointed vice-president of FIDE and Secretary of All India Chess Federation, D V Sundar hailed Bhakti as one of the leading stars of Indian chess with bright future. “Bhakti will be one of the leading woman players of our country within the next three years,” stated Sundar.
She is training currently with Dronacharya Awardee Raghunandan Gokhale in Mumbai before leaving for Halkidiki (Greece) for the World Youth Championship on October 19. PTI MCS DK SHN
Source: http://ibnlive.in.com
Very nice accomplishment.