Goa needs serious chess coaches

Goa needs expert chess coaches, says R Gokhale
by Jovito Lopes

Panaji, Feb 17 There is bright future for chess players in Goa provided there is more governmental support, parental help and expert coaching exposure, disclosed Dronacharya awardee chess coach, Mr Raghunandan Gokhale.“Ivana Maria Furtado, Bhakti Kulkarni, Anurag Mhamal, Pranav Zantye, Riya Sawant, Cyrus Pereira, Umang Kaisare, Anirudh Bhat are already doing exceedingly well among the younger lot, winning state championships with promising performances at national levels in their age-group categories,” stated Mr Gokhale. However, to make a mark at the higher level, be it international or national, the budding players will need the help of expert coaches who are not available in Goa, he pointed out.

“Individual coaching is essential in chess to cater to particular style of the player. No two players adopt similar strategies. It is something like what happens in cricket where everyone cannot be a leg spinner or fast bowler. One has to respect and develop individual features and strong points of a player,” Mr Gokhale stated. “Internet use, books and software is essential in chess and this is easily available today. What Goa needs now is expert coaches, who will have to be invited from elsewhere,” he remarked.

…“Chess prospects in India are very bright. Remember in the last Asiad Games in Doha we won 3 gold. That’s very encouraging sign. We can do still better, as genius are not borne, but made,” Gokhale pointed out. To prove the point, Gokhale mentioned Hungarian chess wizard, psychologist Lazlo Polgar who saw to it that his three daughters – Susan, Sofia and Judith – became chess greats with Judith retaining the number one position in the world for 15 years. Judith plays alongside men and has even defeated V Anand.

The Goa government has been of immense help for the upliftment of chess in the state, Mr Ghokale stated and hoped that with such a stupendous performance in the field, the 80:20 principle could be applied since nearly 80 percent medals that Goa has earned have been from the chess field. More budget for chess would be justifibale, he summed up.

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