I received an email from Mr. John Manahan and it contained a link to an article from The Hindu. I wanted to provide you the clink and link here but I found out that it's not working well so what I'll do is provide you the complete copy below:
Warm welcome for Indian youth team By: Arvind Aaron
Chennai: The Indian team, which won the World youth (under-16) chess Olympiad, was given a fitting reception when they returned home from Singapore on Sunday.
“All our jokes about our team winning the gold became a reality at Singapore,” the 31-year-old K. Visweswaran, who trained the team prior to the camp in Chennai and continued coaching through internet for one hour a day, said.
For the first time the Indian players used the internet to train and make strategies for the team and it worked well.
“All over hotel rooms had wireless internet facility and we connected on skype to talk to our coach in Chennai,” S. Nitin of Salem said.
Formula of success
The reception included garlands and sweets.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF), led by D.V. Sundar, the Tamil Nadu State Chess Association, led by Manuel Aaron, and the Chennai District Chess Association, led by K. Muralimohan and their officials, were present to receive and congratulate the players.
It appeared that the formula to success was the great team spirit these five boys showed and they shared a common vision to win the gold for India.
All the players worked towards winning the team gold, sacrificing their own chances of individual board gold medals, Visweswaran said.
Yet, Adhiban (bronze medal) on first board, Shyam Nikhil (silver medal) on the fourth and Swayams Mishra (bronze medal) on the fifth board won individual medals besides the team gold.
‘Demoralised’
“After the boys lost 1-3 to the Philippines in the seventh round, they were demoralised and locked themselves in their rooms. I took them out to the market to divert their mood,” A. Raizada of Union Bank of India, Lucknow, who went as the coach-cum- manager, said.
According to one parent who accompanied the team, the Indian manager saw one opponent of an Indian player wearing a cap and looking a little suspicious.
He followed him to the toilet during the game and hearing no noise of water, reported it to the arbiter that he could be receiving some external help.
“We were overconfident against the Philippines because three of them did not have ratings,” agreed the players as the reason for losing to the Philippines.
The Indian boys went sky-high after defeating the top seed Hungary in the fifth round by a 3.5-0.5 margin.
Calm and collected
“Towards the end we were cool and had no tension,” the players said, though their parents thought otherwise as Hungary was just half-a-point behind.
“When all other games were complete yesterday, mine was the last one in progress.
“If I won the game then India would get gold and if I lost, silver. I won and it was a great feeling,” R. Ashwath, who lives at Anna Nagar in Chennai, said.
© Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu
NCFP could have sent a different team and will still hound and pound their opponents over the board. That's who Filipino players are, unrated, untitled, under-rated but always comes up with brilliant performances.
In the local news, we have NM Marlon Bernardino's take:
CALAMBA TOPS LAGUNA CHESS AS CABUYAO TOPPLES SAN PEDRO
Calamba City Chess Team beat San Pablo City Team B, 2.5-1.5, in the last round to score 11 match points & capture the 2007 Gov. Lazaro Inter-Town/Inter-Commercial Chess Team Championship title. Rodolfo Panopio, Ruel Gonzales & Ramon Ragas drew their respectve matches against Lito Ordizo, Julio Quito & Melvin Cartina. Richie Jocson demolished Allan Belda in the last board.
San Pablo City beat Los Banos Team A, 3-1, in the 7th round. Mustafa Poingan had an easy point against Val Millena. Willy Abalos crushed Chester Yonzon. Frederick Isip beat UPLB professor RJ Esteves. Danilo Davanadera lost to Michael Concio. San Pablo was actually in a tie with Calamba City but lost in the tie-break. Calamba City & San Pablo Team A equally divided the 1 st & 2nd cash prizes totaling P35, 000.
In the top board encounter, San Pedro Chess Team, solo leader after 6 rounds with 10 match points, was upset by Cabuyao Chess Team in the final round, 1.5-2.5. Engr. Joel Anthony Hicap was held to a draw by Dr. Alfredo Paez. Bryan Punzalan was toppled by Engr. Edwin Lorenzo. Ervil Villa was defeated by Vicente Vargas. Only former National Master Ricky Merano won against Henry Boroc. San Pedro landed in 3 rd place in a tie with Sta. Cruz & Cabuyao. Each team received P6, 000 & a trophy.
In the mixed division, Sta. Cruz Junior Chess Team & Calamba-World Asia Group both scored 9 match points to tie for 1st place.
Board Medalists in the Open Division were Gene Salmorin of Majayjay (Board 1), Engr. Edwin Lorenzo of Cabuyao (Board 2), Arthur de Lima of Sta. Cruz (Board 3), Junifer Reonal of Bay (Board 4), Rainier Valenzuela of Sta. Cruz (Board 5). Getting individual honors for the Mixed Division were Louie Orozco of Sta. Cruz (Board 1), Christian Florin of Calamba-World Asia Group (Board 2), Vince Medina of Sta. Cruz (Board 3) Christian Nanola of Calamba-World Asia Group (Board 4) & Abraham Dionglay of Nagcarlan (Board 5). (MARLON BERNARDINO).
This coming September 12 will be Cavite's turn to have their Inter-town Chess Team tournament, I wonder what will happen if we match the top 3 teams of Laguna and Cavite?
Sounds good? We'll see...
I didn't like the tone of the article on Aaron's Warm Welcome for Indian youth team. Though it didn't allude to the Philippine team, the insinuation of a toilet gate seem to refer to the seventh round when the Indians lost to the Philippines. It is not unusual for losers to come up with an excuse.
ReplyDeleteGetting wireless facility of course can also be source of suspicion if we want to think bad about it. But of course that is completly acceptable, as long as they confine it to their preparations and not on actual games. But if one is bent to think ill of his opponents, any scenario is possible.
I am sorry to say that in this case, the writer instead of merely celebrating their final success, offers a lame excuse for the team losing an important battle. It must be an ego thing that they didn't pass the mettle when facing Filipinos. In reality, Philippine players can be outstanding without the elaborate support from computers and internet chatting & coaching. Just imagine what they can achieve if they have such resources.