| India Rules 6th Asian Schools in Sri Lanka |
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| Wednesday, 15 December 2010 18:04 |
 India dominated the Asian Schools Championships held 7-13 December 2010 in Colombo but Sri Lanka won the top two age groups, Under 15 Open and Girls. Over 120 players from 9 countries, Australia, China, India, Iran, Kazkhastan, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE participated in open and girls age groups for under 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15. Visit chess-results.com for final standings and round by round results.
 PKUM Jayasundara (Sri Lanka) won the Under 15 open with a total of 7½ points out of 9 games while Sanali Nathasha won the under 15 Girls Event with a total of 5½ points out of 7 games.  RDAC Dissananayke C Lamahewa also from Sri Lanka won the Silver and Bronze medals with 6 ½ points respectively. Dinushki Premanath also from Sri Lanka and Karimi Yeghaneh of Iran won the Silver and Bronze medals, respectively, in the under 15 years Girls event with 4½ points each. The 6th Asian Schools chess Championships was held at Nagarodaya, Colombo from 6th to 13th December 2010 organized by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka under the auspices of FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation. FIDE General Secretary Ignatius Leong was the Guest of Honor at the Closing Ceremony with Dr. Lohitha Samarasekera and Mr. Upali Gunasekera, President of Sri Lanka Schools Chess Association. Five Indian players, LN Ram Aravind (9 points out of 9), Salonika Saina (9 points out of 9), Aryan Chopra (8 points out of 9), V Karthik (8 points out of 9) and Samaraki Mohanti (8 points out of 9) made India proud by winning the respective Gold Medals in the age Groups of Under 7 open and Girls, Under 9 Open, Under 11 Open and Under 13 Girls, respectively. Priyanka K (Silver in under 9G with 8 points), Pranav Vijay (Silver in under 11 with 8 points), CH Meghna (Silver in under 11G with 8 points), Rajaryan Kuvelkar (Bronze in under 9 with 6.5points), A Harshini (Bronze in under 9 with 6.5points), S Yogit (Bronze in under 13 with 7 points), CK Varsha (Bronze in under 13G with 7.5points), made the total number of medals of India in out of reach. Iran was also honored by Mobina Alinasabalamdari and Arian Khorsandi by Winning the Under 13 Open and Girls Gold Medals, respectively, scoring 7.5 points each out of 9 rounds. One of the two players from Malaysia, Teh De Zen, grabbed the Under 9 Girls Gold Medal making Malaysia also proud. China won two medals a silver and a bronze through Zhang Jiabao (13 Open with 7 points) and Zhen Ziqiu (11G with 6.5 points) while Young Kevin Willathgamuwa from Australia also won the Silver medal of under 7 Open event with 8 points out of 9. Asani Weerasinghe (Silver in Under 7 Girls), Tiuni Yashora (Silver in Under 13 Girls), GMH Thilakaratne (Bronze in Under 7 Open), Sewwandi Karunaratne (Bronze in Under 7Girls) increased the Number of Medals for Sri Lanka.  Welcoming the honoured Guests for the function, Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, Hony. Secretary of CFSL, General Secretary of Commonwealth Chess Association and President of FIDE Zone 3.2 said that their policy is to organizing more official events in Sri Lanka thereby giving more chances to Sri Lankan Players. He added that there are three Asian events to be held in Sri Lanka next year, the Zone 3.2, Asian Junior Boys and Girls Championships and the Asian Seniors (Men and Women ) Chess Championships. On behalf of the Chess Federation he thanked His Highness Sheikh Sultan, the President of Asian Chess Federation and the Committee for all the support given to Sri Lanka throughout the years. He also thanked Mr. Ignatius Leong for attending the Ceremony with his busy schedule and the support given through FIDE. Asian Chess Federation Deputy President Casto Abundo had graced the opening ceremony. The team Championships medals are as given below. Under 7 Girls
Gold – Sri Lanka, Asani Weerasinghe and Sewwandi Karunaratne Silver – Sri Lanka A, Selani Weerawardena and Niklesha Tharushi Under 7 Open Under 9 Girls Under 9 Open Under 11 Open Under 11 Girls Under 13 Open Under 13 Girls Under 15 Open Under 15 Girls |