So to represent PH in Kazan

So to represent PH in Kazan Universiade
By MST Sports | Posted on Nov. 21, 2012 at 12:01am

It’s final.

GM Wesley So will represent the country in the 27th Summer Universiade scheduled July 6 to 17 in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia.

“I’m looking forward to playing in the 27th Summer Universiade for the first time and represent the country again,” said So in an e-mailed message from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he is currently enrolled as a freshman student.

So, now a member of the ‘Magnificent 8’ of SPICE, said no less than four-time women’s world champion Susan Polgar has given him the green light to play and represent the country in the Kazan Universiade.

Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines president David Ong and Philippine delegation chef de mission Antonio Tiu welcomed the addition of So to the Philippine delegation to the Universiade.

“It’s a big honor for all of us. His entry is a tremendous boost to the Philippine delegation,” said Ong when informed about So’s decision to represent the country in the biennial competition dubbed as the ‘Olympics’ of university athletes.

So’s formal confirmation came after the country, thru FESSAP, was officially admitted by the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire as one of the participating countries in the Universiade.

The admission was relayed in a formal communication sent to FESSAP by FISU from its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In Kazan, So is expected to play against the world’s leading university players.

“Being a world power in chess, Russia is expected to field its best university players in Kazan,” said Ong.

A FESSAP official said host countries in the Universiade usually do everything to excel in sports where they are traditionally strong.

This was evident during the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade where GM Li Chao of China topped the chess competition.

Source: http://manilastandardtoday.com