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Buoyed by the recent success, ace Odisha woman chess player Padmini Rout is gunning to fulfil her ultimate dream by becoming the women`s world champion within the next two years. But without long-term support, she finds it extremely difficult to move ahead.
With time running out, the 20-year-old Woman Grandmaster today made a desperate appeal to both the union and state governments as well as public and corporate sector companies to sponsor her campaign for two years.
``The last three months have been very successful for me. The gold medal as the fifth-board prize at Olympiad in Norway, the fourth-place finish in the World Junior in Pune and the maiden title in the National Women`s Premier at Sangli have immensely boosted my confidence. Now I feel I can perform as well in the senior level,`` said Padmini at a press conference here.
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``I want to carry on with this winning momentum and become Grand Master in open category and women`s world champion eventually. Though I have prepared a road map to accomplish these goals by the end of 2016, lack of long-term sponsorship and higher-level coaching are creating stumbling blocks on my path,`` lamented Padmini, who has won six National, four Commonwealth, five Asian and one World titles in her decade-long career so far.
Padmini regretted that due to lack of financial backing, she has not yet bagged the IM title. ``Unlike other promising chess players of the country, I could not play open tournaments abroad, especially in Europe and increase my rating as much as I expected. I have six IM norms, but for the title my rating is yet to cross the 2400 mark,`` explained former world under-14 girls` champion.
She, however, claimed that by winning the National Premier title, she had come tantalisingly closer to the IM title. ``I hope to gain around 40 rating points from the National Premier and need another nine points to be eligible for the IM title. I am confident of reaching the 2400 mark as soon as possible,`` said Padmini.
Speaking on her road-map for the women`s world title and the amount of financial support she needs, Padmini said: ``I have planned to play 15 open tournaments abroad before the world championship and the total expenditure for the purpose would be around Rs 24 lakh. Another Rs 24 lakh is required to train under a Grand Master in India or abroad. Being a girl, it`s difficult for me to travel alone for tournaments. My mother always accompanies me. In that case expenses increase.’’
``Players come to World championship with two GMs as their coaches or seconds. Through out my career, I have hardly taken any coaching from a GM. But for the World championship, this is a must,`` she added.
Eminent chess coach Satya Ranjan Patnaik, who guided Padmini in her formative years, expressed confidence that his protege has all the qualities to become woman world champion. ``After Humpy and Harika, Padmini has emerged as the most talented woman chess player of the country. Given the financial support, she can conquer the world at the senior level,`` he observed.
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TOP: Padmini Rout with her recent trophies in Bhubaneswar on Nov 12, 2014.
RIGHT: Padmini Rout with her mother at the press conference in Bhubaneswar on Nov 12, 2014.
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