Bhubaneswar: Aparajita Gochhikar scripted history recently by winning the Fédération Internationale des Échecs or World Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Arbiter Title.
Gochhikar received the award at the Presidential Board of the world chess body in Minsk of Belarus.
“I am extremely happy that I got the award as the first person from the state. There are also very few women who have got the award in India. It was possible only because of god’s grace,” said Aparajita in her reaction adding “Every staff of KIIT and KISS including its founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta congratulated me.”
She further said that with the getting of the FIDE Chess Arbiter Title, her responsibility for the development of chess in the state has increased.
Asked on for an advice to the budding chess players of the state, Gochhikar said, “I developed interest for playing chess when I was only 10-year-old and my confidence gradually developed when I took party in more competitions. Therefore, I advise the young players to take part in different tournaments so that they may become more confident.”
Gochhikar had won bronze in the Asian Amateur Chess Championship at Chiang Mai, Thailand, in November, 2017. She was nominated by the All India Chess Federation to represent India as official player in the Championship.
Aparajita, a former student of KIIT University and present employee of the University, gave her winning credit to Dr. Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT & KISS.