Michelle Catherina gains confidence boost

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Chennai girl P. Michelle Catherina has just returned home from New Delhi after winning the national women’s challengers chess championship.

The champion doesn’t have much time to savour her triumph as she has three important events __ national junior (Rajasthan), national ‘A’ (Maharashtra) and world youth (Slovenia) __ lined up. Life can be quite hectic for chess players these days. They are on the move all the time.

Does Michelle, 16, miss the pleasures that girls of her age take for granted? “I do feel homesick sometimes. Otherwise, I have no problems.

In life, nothing comes easy. One can’t achieve in chess without sacrifices,” says the Plus One student of Good Shepherd School.

Michelle has been making steady progress ever since she pocketed the national sub-junior title at her home turf last year.

Her notable achievements in recent times include a maiden IWM norm, bronze medals at the U-17 nationals and the Asian U-16 championship.

The articulate youngster says she enjoys playing chess. Results will take care of themselves as long as she retains her love for the game. Michelle’s long-time coach is GM R.B. Ramesh, who is one of the best in the business.

Even though Michelle entered the 11th and final round of the national women’s challengers with half-a-point lead, the title was by no means hers.

A win would secure her title and a draw meant her fate would depend on the result in some other table.

The 10th seed’s final round opponent was Kerala’s A.G. Nimmy, who was ranked seven places higher than the Chennai girl. But Michelle accomplished her mission in style. She outwitted Nimmy to take her tally to nine points.

Now the title was in her bag.Tamil Nadu swept the podium as P. Priya and J. Saranya finished second and third respectively. Michelle was delighted that her state enjoyed a dream run in Delhi.

Even though the top 20 from the challengers made the cut for the national ‘A’ championship, Michelle has earned a psychological boost ahead of the country’s premier tournament for women by topping the qualifiers.

“Winning the title is great for my confidence. I was placed 10th in the national ‘A’ last year. This time I’m targetting a top-six finish,” she said.

Tamil Nadu girls are a force to be reckoned with in chess. Michelle is glad that Indian women have come a long way in sports.

The chess champ said she followed the London Olympics with interest. “The performances of Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal were the highlights for me,” she said.