City chess prodigy eyeing for sponsors

Vijayawada, Sep 7 (UNI) A 10-year-old city chess prodigy, who was a winner of Limca Book of Records-2006 for her blind folding chess prowess is looking for sponsors to compete in tournaments in this category.

Talking to newspersons here today, Y Sai Lakhsmi, a fifth standard student, who had participated in over 30 state and national chess competitions, said she was facing financial constraints and looking forward to financial assistance from public sector undertakings and industrialists for sponsoring her to play with Grandmasters in the world.

The young chess player said she bagged state championship in the Under-seven age group in 2002, and at national level she finished seventh at Chennai in 2003.

Lakshmi entered the Limca Book of Records after playing a chess tournament blind-folded with newspersons in last year here.

She said her aim was to play with Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, but the financial constraints did not permit her to compete with him.

Her parents, who were present at the press conference, urged the Government and other major institutions to come forward to sponsor their child for international events.

Lakshmi also released a book authored by her, ''Sai Lakshmi Indian attack (Chess Opening)'' before the media.

She writes about new techniques on chess in her book and authored the book after getting inspiration from President A P J Abdul Kalam's reply to her letter, her parents added.

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