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Bengaluru: Chess whiz kid Koushik's career in doldrums

By Natraj V Katti
Bengaluru, May 23: Girish Koushik, a nine and half year-old chess prodigy from Karnataka, nurtures a dream of becoming the youngest grandmaster ever in India before he turns 13. And to realize his dreams, the World Champion in U-10, needs specialized training and testing competitions in Europe. But paucity of funds and lack of support from govt, corporate sector and from fellow citizens leaves his career in stalemate.

"Hiring the services of specialized trainers from Russia and playing in European circuits not only earns him the good ELO points, it also prepares him for world-level competitions. But to hire and live and train there, he needs Rs 35 lakhs on an average every year. Leave alone Karnataka Government, with no sponsor support so far from cricket biased corporate sector he has no option but to call it quits at the tender age," says Arun Koushik, father and mentor, with heavy heart. [Achievements of young Girish Koushik]

Ever since winning the world title in Batumi, Georgia in Oct 2006, nothing has come Girish's way while U-8 girls champion in the same event, Ivana Furtado of Goa, was awarded Rs 7 lakh for her feat by Goan govt.

"But for DYSS (Karnataka Government's window for promotion of sports and youth services ), cash award that too minuscule Rs 25,000, we hardly received any support from the govt. Girish deserves Rs 1 lakh for his victory in World Championship and Rs 50,000 for winning the Asian event from Center. Repeated pleas to SAI and NIS, Patiala in this regard yielded no results," laments Koushik Sr. in an exclusive interview with www.oneindia.in

For a boy whose father played the sport for his college and university, who presumably grew up in an environment where a home wasn't considered a home until there was a chess board in every drawer, Girish took to the sport seriously at the tender age of four. He learnt the nitty gritty of the sport very quickly. By the age of seven he had won all the district level competitions. In 2004, he won State U-10 championships. Since then there was no looking back for this Mysore lad, who made his mark in State, National and International events.

Girish came to international limelight when he won the best player award in FIDE International at Cochin in 2004. He won the Asian U-8 title at New Delhi in 2005 but highlight of his career so far is winning World Championships 06 in Georgia with three rounds to spare, surely not a mean achievement from a small town lad with no coach, no laptops and no equipments-board, timer et al.

While dwindling of funds and lack of government support is threatening Girish's blooming career this kid is determined to scale new heights. He is no day-dreamer. He wants to make it big.

"I want to play in big leagues like Linares, Amber and other major European leagues. Playing against the best chess masters in top leagues will not only help you in picking the finer aspects of the sport but also in increasing the ratings besides the money you earn," said Girish, who draws inspiration from Russian legend Gary Kasparov.

Chess is not a glamorous sport in India. There is no money in sport till a player attains the GM norm, though promising juniors like Tania Sachdeva (Hughes Software Ltd, Indian Airlines and ONGC), Sahaj (Khemka Group) and Negi (Tata Tea and Air India) have been lucky to enjoy the backing of liberal sponsors. Money is no problem for the performers but alas Girish is not fortunate enough in this aspect.

For those outside the sport - sponsors: real or potential, government agencies, sport enthusiasts- the message is an unabashed plea for support. Let us help this chess whizkid realize his dreams.

Girish Koushik can be reached at

No. 796, Giri Nivas,
26th cross, 4th main, Vidyaranyapuram,
Mysore -570008, Karnataka, India.

Arun Koushik, father and mentor (+91-99868-89690)
[email protected]

OneIndia News

Story first published: Thursday, August 24, 2017, 15:54 [IST]
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