1st Computer to chess players Award function organized by Buddhibal Kreeda Trust
was held in Council Hall, Pune on 20th April 2007 at 6pm. The Function was
presided by Dr. Nitin Kareer, Pune Divisional Commissioner and Patron of Chess
Players Association of India and Chief Guest for the Function was Mr. Anand
Deshpande, CEO & Managing Director Persistent Systems Pvt. Ltd. Also present on
the Dias were former Ranji Player & Captain of Maharshtra Cricket team Mr.
Milind Gunjal, and Mr. Prakash Kunte, Managing Trustee of Buddhibal Kreeda
Trust.
Total 6 players including Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte, WGM Swati Ghate, WGM Eesha
Karavade, WIM Kruttika Nadig, Indian team member Amruta Mokal, National Junior
champion Soumya Swaminathan received the award.
GM Abhijit Kunte in his welcome speech elaborated the scheme saying all the
title holders of Pune having IM Title and 2400 elo points, and WIM title with
Elo point 2200+ were eligible for the scheme, also all the National and Asian
Champions, World championship medal winners from all the age-group championship
are eligible for the scheme. Players who are finishing in top 6 in Men & Women
National “A” also Asian, & World team Championship Medal Winner are also
eligible for the scheme. This scheme is only for the players from Pune city.
Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte praised the efforts
made by Dr. Kareer and Mr. Deshpande to start this program for Chess Players. He
also said that this effort will surely bring Pune from current no. 3 chess
playing city to no.1 city in near future.
Left to right - sitting Mr.
Milind Gunjal - Cricket Ranji Player - tata Motors, mr. Prakash Kunte - Managing
trustee - Buddhibal kreeda Trust, Dr. Nitin Kareer, IAS - Pune Divisional
Commissioner & Patron Chess Players Association of India, Mr. Anand Deshpande -
CEO & Managing Director, Persistent Systems Pvt. Ltd.
Standing Left to right - WGM Swati Ghate, WIM Kruttika Nadig, GM Abhijit Kunte,
Indian Team Member Amruta Mokal, National Junior Champion Soumya Swaminathan
Dr. Karavde father of WGM Eesha Karavade spoke on behalf of all the parents said
that this is a first time that players from Pune city are being rewarded for
their performance, he thanked Dr.Kareer, and Mr. Anand Deshpande for their
support to Chess in Pune. He also mentioned that if the support to the game
continues like this, players will bring more laurels to the city and country.
This awards have also put hope in the parents that if the child plays well,
their might be a good support system for the players.
Mr. Anand Deshpande in his Key-Note address mention that for any person to go
ahead in his life need to have 5 things – Dream, Team work and Networking,
Concentration, Positive Attitude and Persistence. He said Chess is game which
teaches all this values to the players, he was happy he could do this for the
game; he said he is hopeful that all the players will use the computers in best
possible manner to improve their skills in the game of Chess.
Dr. Kareer, congratulated Mr. Anand Deshpande for
his sponsorship to the scheme, because of Anand Deshpande it was very easy for
him to get this scheme started. He said he is tired of listening that Pune is on
no3 and 4 in all the aspects let it be IT, Industry or even Chess, He said if
all the People work in right directions then surely Pune will be no. 1 city in
Chess. He appealed to Industry that most of the associations are facing
financial crunch and Industry not only IT but any Industry which is doing well
should come forward and support the sports. Talking about Sports associations he
mentioned that it’s a general view that associations are working for the
individuals, and they are forgetting the players, so it’s a need of time that
all the fractions, Players and Associations should come together and work. He
was happy that he could fulfill his promise about the computers to the players.
Mr.Prakash Kunte in his speech, Thanked Dr.Kareer
for his continues support to the chess players. He also thanked Mr. Anand
Deshpande and Persistent Company for the financial support for the scheme. He
also set all the players new targets for the next year. And he said if the
players achieve that then it will be perfect return for the sponsors.
The function was attended by leading players including IM Prathmesh Mokal,
Anuprira Patil, Sneha Ghatpande, Abhishek Kelkar, Archit Mokashi, Kiran
Panditrao, PDCA office bearers Joseph D’Souza, Nitin Shenvi, Rajendra Shidore,
Sanjay Adhav etc, Coaches, WIM Mrunalinee Aurangabadkar, Makarand Velankar, UK
Sahastrabudhe, Abhijit Joshi etc.
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Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte
receiving Laptop from Mr. Deshpande |
WGM Swati Ghate receiving
Laptop from Mr. Deshpande |
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Soumya Swaminathan receiving
Laptop from Mr. Deshpande |
Amruta Mokal receiving Laptop
from Mr. Deshpande |
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WIM Kruttika Nadig receiving
Laptop from Mr. Deshpande |
We are thankful to Buddhibal Kreeda Trust for this report
