Chess layer Dhanumuri Jishitha was felicitated by the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh for winning the world U-14 girls’ title at Uruguay, with a promise by SAAP Managing Director N. Bangara Raju that efforts will be made to identify a sponsor to help the budding champion further her sporting career.
Jishitha, with her major win has garnered 54 points to enhance her rating to 2,140. “Though I was under time pressure, I was able to tide over the crunch situation as I was positioned well,” she said and admitted that she was found wanting in the openings while playing black pieces.
Jishitha seeded six and after tottering at the ninth spot after six rounds won the last five rounds of the 11-round Swiss League to finish with nine points. “I defeated the highly rated top seed Women Fide Master Bibisara Assaubayeva (2,421) and that enhanced my confidence,” she pointed out.
Andhra Pradesh Chess Association secretary D. Srihari said that after Pendyala Harikrishna and Koneru Humpy, it was Jishitha who won the third world title from Andhra Pradesh.
Coached by Hyderabad-based coach N.V.S. Rama Raju, Jisitha won the gold in the Asian Youth Championship at Uzbekistan both in classic and blitz formats and finished fifth in rapid this year.
SAAP sports officers P. Ramakrishna, Srinivasa Rao and others took part in the felicitation.
