World Schools 2016: Two Individual Golds + Team Silver for India
by Niklesh Jain - 17/12/2016
The Indian team had a happy finish at the World Schools 2016. A. Harshini and Dhyana Patel won the gold in the under-15 and under-11 sections respectively. Kush Bhagat brought back a gold under-7 blitz and the team overall won the silver medal. Niklesh Jain, the head of Indian delegate at the World schools 2016, brings us pictures of all the prize winners.
The World Schools 2016, which were in progress in Sochi, Russia since last 10 days, ended on a great note for India as we won two individual golds and a team silver. It was a fine performance by the 18 member squad as some of the players were successful in getting their FIDE rating. The closing ceremony began with a moment of silence for the victims of Istanbul attack. With new friendships, great memories and exciting games the Indian team started their journey back home from Sochi to homeland.
Dhyana Patel (left) and A. Harshini won the under-11 and under-15 section respectively and received the WFM title for their efforts
Each and every Indian would feel proud seeing this picture. In the overall team standings India finished second behind Kazakhstan, and ahead of Russia.
The main team (A) of India which consisted of five players won the silver medal. The team included A. Harshini (U-15) of Velammal school in Chennai, Dhyana Patel (U-11) of Nirmaan School in Ahmedabad, Rishabh Shah (U-13) of Cathedral and John Connon, Savitha Shri (U-9) from Velammal School, and Captain of the team Ayush Pattnaik of Syna International Madhya Pradesh
With 32 points India was able to overtake Russia, which had 31 points. Kazakhstan was the deserving first with 36.5.
Tournament Director Alexander Tkachev spoke about the attack in Istanbul and there was a minute's silence in the tournament hall
World Schools head Ozgür Solakoğlu said that we are all a family and this is our biggest strength
The prize ceremony
The winners of the blitz tournament were also given prizes
In the main tournament Kush Bhagat, Savita Shri, Rushabh Shah and Ayush Pattnaik won their last two rounds. They couldn't win a medal but finished in the top ten list.
Mumbai's little master Kush Bhagat won the gold medal in the under-7 blitz tournament and finished sixth in the main event. Rushabh Shah also ended on the sixth place in the under-13 section.
Savita Shri missed the medal by a whisker finishing sixth in under-9. She has a bright future ahead of her.
Under 7 girls: Afruza Khamdova and Odina Olimova of Uzbekistan won the gold and silver, while Alserkal Rouda Essa from UAE won the bronze.
Under 7 boys: Naranbold Sodbilegt from Mongolia won the gold, Xiaoxi Wei from China won silver and Khumoyun Begmuratov from Uzbekistan won bronze
Under-9 girls: Samra Gasimova from Azerbaijan won gold, silver for Galina Mikheeva and bronze for Veronika Shubenova both from Russia.
In the under-9 section Russia dominated completely. Gold: Leonid Lystsov, silver Grigori Simonyan, Daniil Maneluk
With seven players Syna International school from Katni had most number of players than any school from the event. Tournament director Alexander Tkachev invited the school to be a part of the biggest Russian inter school event White Rook which happens every year.
The pieces go back in the boxes at the end of the day. Some players go back with trophies, but just about everyone takes back memories!
Each and every Indian would feel proud seeing this picture. In the overall team standings India finished second behind Kazakhstan, and ahead of Russia. 
