Date:02/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110261141800.htm

Sport - Chess

Velammal felicitates its young champions

CHENNAI: In keeping with its enviable reputation of rewarding and recognising the achievements of sportspersons, Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School on Saturday felicitated its students, who represented the country in the World Youth chess championship at Vung Tau in Vietnam recently.

Six of them — B. Adhiban, S.P. Sethuraman, M. Shyam Sundar, J. Mohanapriya, G.K. Monnisha and M. Mahalakshmi — were given cash prizes by the Velammal Educational Trust.

Adhiban, the gold medal winner in the under-16 section, received a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh at the school premises while Sethuraman, the silver medallist, got Rs. 75,000. The rest went home richer by Rs. 50,000.

“Velammal has become synonymous with chess,” said J.C.P. Prabhakaran, vice-president, Tamil Nadu State Chess Association. He lauded the Velammal management for its passion for sports especially chess.

Prabhakaran praised the All India Chess Federation (AICF) for its quiet, unobtrusive and untiring work. D.V. Sundar, Secretary, AICF said what the kids have achieved has been due to “the extraordinary support of Velammal.

“AICF is grateful to Velammal, headed by its Chairman, M.V. Muthuramalingam, Velammal Educational Trust,” he said.

Sundar said the Government of India’s monetary support to the sub-junior and junior teams for the exposure trips to Spain helped the Indian team win a rich haul in the World youth championship.

Adhiban and Sethuraman profusely thanked the school and AICF for their guidance.