Odisha Girl Saina Bags Bronze In World Youth Championship
05 November, Bhubaneswar
Saina Salonika from Odisha bagged Bronze Medal in the World Youth Chess Championship at Greece today in the Under-12 Girls Category.
The Championship was held at Porto Carros Grand Resort. Halkidiki, Greece from October 24 to November 5.
In the Eleven round tournament, Saina remained undefeated throughout the tournament by winning six games and drawing five games with a total score of 8.5 points. Salimova Nurguel of Belgium captured the Gold while Yip Carissa of USA got the Silver medal
This was Saina’s third medal in the World Youth Chess Champinship and 11th Medal in International Championships. Earlier, Saina had won Bronze Medal in the World Youth Chess Championship in the U-8 Girl category at Caldas Novas, Brazil in 2011 and Gold Medal in World Youth Chess Championship in the U-10 Girl category at All Ain, UAE in 2013.
Saina, also got Commonwealth Gold in 2012 and Silver this year. In the month of June 2015 she bagged Three Gold Medals in individual and team event in the ASEAN chess Championship held at Nanyang Technological university, Singapore.
With this Bronze Medal at Greece Saina gained valuable 66 ELO Rating points and became the Number One player of the country in the Under-12 Girl.
Last year she was conferred with the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement by the President of India in Rastrapati Bhavan.
Hailing originally from Sulan Village of Hatadihi block in the District of Keonjhar. Saina stays with her father GaneswarJena and mother Babita Jena at Bhubaneswar and pursuing her studies in the Std-VII of KIIT International School.
Saina has expressed her gratitude to the Mahanadi Coal Fields Ltd ( MCL) Authorities particularly Ex- Chairman cum Managing Director A N Sahay and the present CMD A K Jha for sponsoring her expenses without which she could not have participated in the international tournaments.
Saina also expressed her gratitude to Founder of KIIT and KISS Acyut Samant for his support.