Bhubaneswar: Young chess player Saina Salonika who finished with the under-14 Commonwealth Chess gold medal was accorded a rousing reception at the Biju Patnaik International Airport when she arrived back at the city, Tuesday evening. The tournament at New Delhi had ended Monday.
Officials of the state chess federation, family members including her parents were present at the airport to receive the chess player.
Saina played seven matches in the tournament winning five of them and drawing the remaining two to end up the winner in her segment with six points. This was her third gold in the event, having won the other two in two different age categories in 2012 and 2015.
Saina stated that the win against top seed D Jisitha early in the tournament had acted as a huge confidence-booster for her. “It gave me the momentum and I was confident of finishing at the top once I beat her,” Saina stated on her arrival.
Her next goal is to do well in the World Championships at Uruguay in September. “I am fully focused on doing well in that tournament and I will start my training sessions soon. I want to finish on the podium there too,” Saina stated. She also thanked the KIIT authorities for their support.
