Sport - Chess

Harini emerges champion

— Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

MOMENT TO CHERISH: S. Harini receiving the trophy from Viswanathan Anand.

CHENNAI: S. Harini defended her title in the 27th Rachel Paranjothy open chess tournament for women, sponsored by Ramco, here on Friday.

The second place went to National under-13 girls’ champion J. Saranya while V. Janu finished third.

World champion Viswanathan Anand, who was the chief guest, praised Ethiraj College for organising the tournament for 27 long years.

Also present during the function were Dr. Mrs. M. Thavamani, Principal, Ethiraj College, Dr. A.M. Swaminathan, Chairman, Ethiraj College, and D.V. Sundar, Secretary, All India Chess Federation.

Final standings: 1. S. Harini (SRM Arts and Science) 7; 2. J. Saranya (Velammal) 6.5; 3-6 V. Janu (Velammal), Srija Seshadri (Jawahar Vidyalaya, Neyveli), G.K. Monnisha (Velammal) and G. Aarthi (G.K. Shetty) 6 each; 7-13 G. Apurva (Vaishnav, Chromepet), B. Jeyassri, Michelle Catherina (Good Shepherd), V. Varshini, M. Mahalakshmi (both Velammal), B. Arthi (Sethu Baskara) and K.S. Divyalakshmi 5.5 each; 14-19 U. Ashwini (Church Park), R. Dharanisree (Chettinad Vidyashram), J.G. Nevedhitha (Everwin), D. Trishla, T. Rajeswari and M. Padmashree 5 each.

YMCA edged St. Patrick’s 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a goalless final to clinch the CFA-Eicher inter-school football tournament and lift the Kanniappa Mudaliar Trophy on Thursday.

Indian Bank recorded its fourth win in six St. Joseph’s-CFA Senior Division football matches, beating DB Annai Youth 2-1 on Friday.

In the 52nd minute, Indian Bank striker K.V. Gunasekar peeled out to the right wing and curled a cross into the box, between the two Annai Youth centre halves, where midfielder S. Fredy’s first touch set up an emphatic volley into the bottom corner.

Indian Bank looked to have sealed the issue four minutes from time, with second-half substitute M. David nodding a precise Parthiban cross home.

But two minutes later, Annai Youth caused a flutter of doubt, Sudhakar converting a penalty after Indian bank centre half Hemanta Singh brought down centre forward Jeribe Kelechi.

Earlier, a 72nd minute goal from Ramkumar gave Chennai Soccer a 1-0 win over Universal RC in the first division.

In Thursday’s senior division game, P.C. Riju’s strike from the edge of the box a minute from time gave Madras Sporting Union a 1-0 win over Sports Authority of India.

St. Joseph’s College of Engineering finished the SBM Jain College sports festival at Bangalore in a blaze of glory winning the overall championship titles for men and women, volleyball (women), tennis and badminton (men) and second places in athletics (men), table tennis and tennis (women). The festival was held between January 5 and 7.

In athletics, St. Joseph’s clinched the overall title with 101 (men 39, women 62) followed by SBM Jain with 72 (42-30).

A. Gowri (volleyball), Ajayselvaraj (tennis), Grace Hannah (tennis) and P. Subhashini (athletics) were adjudged the best in their respective events.

Sathyabama emerged unbeaten in the semifinal league to clinch the basketball title, while Loyola College won the men’s table tennis team event.

The results: Basketball: Final placings: 1. Sathyabama, 2. SRM, 3. Colombo Univ, Sri Lanka, 4. PSG Coimbatore.

Semifinal league: Sathyabama bt Colombo University 65-38; bt PSG, Coimbatore 72-56; bt SRM 66-42.

Volleyball: Final placings: 1. Sathyabama, 2. SRM, 3. Christ University, 4. Vivekananda. Semifinal league: Sathyabama bt Vivekanda 25-18, 25-14, 25-18; bt Christ University 25-14, 25-13, 25-20; bt SRM 26-24, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20.

Table Tennis team results (final league): Loyola bt SRM Arts and Science; bt SBM Jain, Bangalore; bt SSN College of Engineering, Chennai.

SRM University claimed the South Zone inter-university volleyball championship on a better point ratio in the competition organised by Mangalore University at Mangalore from January 5 to 9. A.V. Manikantan was declared as the best setter in the championship.

SRM prevailed over Madras 20-25, 16-25, 25-14, 25-22, 15-12 in the quarterfinals and then beat Mangalore 25-21, 25-23, 25-20, lost to Sathyabhama University 25-20, 25-17, 20-25, 16-25, 14-16 and Mahatma Gandhi University 25-27, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18 in the last league match.

Securing a point ratio of 1:070 SRM emerged the winner, followed by Sathyabhama (1:056), MGU (0.98) and Mangalore (0.78). All these four teams will figure in the all-India inter-zone finals to be held at Mangalore from January 10.

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