But before the start of the year, Padmini, a Plus-Three final year commerce student of BJB College here, was in trouble, struggling with her form. She, in fact, could not achieve any major success through out the year 2013. But self belief and change in preparation method helped her make a dream return. Speaking to www.orisports.com, petite Padmini said she now aims to become a Grandmaster as early as possible.

PERFORMANCE OF PADMINI (Rating 2318) IN CHESS OLYMPIAD:
Round 1: (W) beat WFM Nicole Tsoi (1787) NZL
Round 3: (W) beat WIM Madina Davletbayeva (2289) KAZ
Round 4: (B) drew Adela Velikic (2145) SRB
Round 5: (W) beat Elisabeth Hapala (2083) AUT
Round 6: (B) beat WIM Yudania Hernandez Estevez (2258) ESP
Round 7: (W) beat IM Tea Lanchava (2276) NED
Round 8: (B) beat WFM Ummi Fisabilillah (2029) INA
Round 10: (W) beat WFM Laura Stoeri (2123) SUI

INTERVIEW:
Question: Where do you rate your Olympiad success?
Answer: This is undoubtedly the biggest achievement of my career. I have won five Asian gold and one World bronze, but all in age-group or junior categories. Chess Olympiad is like Davis Cup and winning a board prize on debut is a dream-come-true. I really did not expect this success at the start of the competition.

Q: How did you prepare for the Olympiad?
A: To be honest, I could not devote enough time for preparation. I also did not take any coaching from a GM. It was all solo preparation. What I did extra was a week-long practice with fellow WGM Mary Ann Gomes here in my home. But a change in the preparation method helped me a lot. I learnt it from a camp in Vietnam earlier this year.

Q: Why you struggled after 2012?
A: There was nothing wrong with my game. I was also not lacking in confidence. But the problem was that I played a lot of tournaments inside the country and could not devote adequate time for preparation. As a result my rating came down and people started doubting my ablility.

Q: How your overcame the struggling period?
A: There is no secret. I just kept working on my game and my physical fitness. Self belief and perseverance bore fruit eventually. Earlier this year, I performed very well in second board of the Asian Nations Cup at Tabriz in Iran and that boosted my self-confidence. Indian women won the title in blitz category and finished second behind China in standard and rapid events. But the success did not get the public adulation it deserved. I went to the Olympiad in fine form, having won the `Chess for Girls 2014’ title in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last month.

Q: How did you spend your off-time in Norway?
A: It was nice and rare. Some of my fellow players found it difficult to sleep because it is always day-time in Norway. On occasions they woke up too early, fearing they might get late for competition. But I had no problem adjusting to the conditions. The food was manageable and I relished chicken salad a lot. On one of my off-day I spent time with Hungarian legend Judit Polgar.

Q: Did you silence your critics by winning the Olympiad gold?
A: Yes. People had started questioning my form. They also doubted about my ability to achieve any more international success. By my close friends and family members had full confidence on me.

Q: Whar are your future plans?
A: My immediate goal is to become an International Master by reaching the 2400 rating and the next is to become a Grandmaster. I have gained around 36 rating points from the Olympiad and need another 40-odd for the IM title. I am going to play the National Challenger next month at Goa and the World Junior at Pune in October. Doing will in these two events should help me realise my immediate goal.
--------------------------------------------------------- PHOTOS ---------------------------------------------------------
TOP: Padmini Rout with her mother Sasmita in Bhubaneswar on August 17, 2014.
RIGHT: Padmini Rout with Hungarian legend Judit Polgar in Tromso, Norway.