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For those who will be following the Olympiads that are starting on September 21, I propose the following challenge. Identify what some other countries are doing right. I am aware that our financial means are modest and we cannot be compared to the major chess powerhouse. For the sake of this thread, I suggest money issues be not be taken into account. Who knows, some good ideas could help establish a long term plan for improving the conditions?
Suggestion #1: Hire a coach for both the men and women team. I have read that Khalifman is the coach of the men Russia no3 team. Over the past few months, they have been exchanging over the net. India had a training camp.
Indians chase elusive medal in Chess Olympiad
Archiman Bhaduri, TNN, Sep 18, 2010, 02.43am ISTR
KOLKATA: The Indian men's and women's chess teams will set out to achieve what has remained elusive so far - a medal in the Chess Olympiad.
Both teams will be leaving for the biennial event, to be held this time in Russia's Khanty-Maniysk, on Saturday. The tournament begins on Tuesday. In the 2008 Olympiad, the Indian men finished 16th and the women were placed 15th in Germany's Dresden. The teams had a solid 12-day training in Kunnur, the men working with Lev Psakhis and the women being under Oleg Romanishin's supervision. Grandmaster Psakhis of Israel had worked with the Indian team in the last Olympiad as well as the World Team Chess event in January this year. "Working with Psakhis earlier helped us coordinate well," Surya Sekhar Ganguly told TOI. "He already knew us and our style well, hence it was possible to work on our strategy better," the Grandmaster said.
India will once again be without world champion Viswanathan Anand and world No 2 Koneru Humpy, who have both decided to skip the meet. Anand had played in the 2004 Olympiad in Mallorca ( Spain), which was also Humpy's first Olympiad. India enjoyed their best finish in both men's (6th) and women's (9th) sections that time. Harikrishna doesn't think that Anand's absence will affect India's prospects in the fortnight-long tournament. "No doubt we would have been stronger with Anand, but that does not mean we are any less without him," he said. Ganguly echoed Harikrishna's thought. "We are all in good form and ready for the challenge," Ganguly, who had a good outing in the Spanish league recently, said.
Analysing India's shortcomings in this team event, Hari said: "I think we always make a good beginning but slip in between. We need to maintain the intensity and momentum." It will be an 11-round meet featuring 1,380 players, including 247 GMs, 63 WGMs, 160 IMs, 87 WIMs, 81 FMs and 80 WFMs. Ganguly added that the men's team stands a good chance this year.
Teams
Men: K Sasikiran 2681; SS Ganguly 2650, P Harikirshna 2645, GN Gopal 2603, B Adhiban 2516.
Women: D Harika 2515, Tania Sachdev 2382, Eesha Karavade 2365, S Meenakshi 2336, Nisha Mohota 2332.
Suggestion #1: Hire a coach for both the men and women team. I have read that Khalifman is the coach of the men Russia no3 team. Over the past few months, they have been exchanging over the net. India had a training camp.
Indians chase elusive medal in Chess Olympiad
Archiman Bhaduri, TNN, Sep 18, 2010, 02.43am ISTR
KOLKATA: The Indian men's and women's chess teams will set out to achieve what has remained elusive so far - a medal in the Chess Olympiad.
Both teams will be leaving for the biennial event, to be held this time in Russia's Khanty-Maniysk, on Saturday. The tournament begins on Tuesday. In the 2008 Olympiad, the Indian men finished 16th and the women were placed 15th in Germany's Dresden. The teams had a solid 12-day training in Kunnur, the men working with Lev Psakhis and the women being under Oleg Romanishin's supervision. Grandmaster Psakhis of Israel had worked with the Indian team in the last Olympiad as well as the World Team Chess event in January this year. "Working with Psakhis earlier helped us coordinate well," Surya Sekhar Ganguly told TOI. "He already knew us and our style well, hence it was possible to work on our strategy better," the Grandmaster said.
India will once again be without world champion Viswanathan Anand and world No 2 Koneru Humpy, who have both decided to skip the meet. Anand had played in the 2004 Olympiad in Mallorca ( Spain), which was also Humpy's first Olympiad. India enjoyed their best finish in both men's (6th) and women's (9th) sections that time. Harikrishna doesn't think that Anand's absence will affect India's prospects in the fortnight-long tournament. "No doubt we would have been stronger with Anand, but that does not mean we are any less without him," he said. Ganguly echoed Harikrishna's thought. "We are all in good form and ready for the challenge," Ganguly, who had a good outing in the Spanish league recently, said.
Analysing India's shortcomings in this team event, Hari said: "I think we always make a good beginning but slip in between. We need to maintain the intensity and momentum." It will be an 11-round meet featuring 1,380 players, including 247 GMs, 63 WGMs, 160 IMs, 87 WIMs, 81 FMs and 80 WFMs. Ganguly added that the men's team stands a good chance this year.
Teams
Men: K Sasikiran 2681; SS Ganguly 2650, P Harikirshna 2645, GN Gopal 2603, B Adhiban 2516.
Women: D Harika 2515, Tania Sachdev 2382, Eesha Karavade 2365, S Meenakshi 2336, Nisha Mohota 2332.
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