A Kilkenny school girl born in Bangalore is a member of the women's team to represent Ireland at the Chess Olympics.
Thirteen-year-old Poornima Jayadev Menon is set to represent Ireland at the Chess Olympiad. She will become the youngest player ever to compete for Ireland at senior level. She is one of four members of the national women's team taking part in the 37th Chess Olympiad in Italy over the next two weeks.
There are renewed calls for the Irish government to officially recognise chess as a sport and to provide the funding needed to support its development.
Preparing for the competition Poornima Jayadev Menon is receiving additional coaching at Presentation Secondary School in Kilkenny. Originally from Bangalore, India, she moved to Ireland with her family five years ago when her father took up a position with the VHI in Kilkenny. Coach, Darko Polimac, who is originally from Croatia, believes the young player has a very successful future ahead of her. The time will soon come when his own training expertise will no longer be sufficient. He argues that a lack of official recognition for chess in Ireland has resulted in poor investment and limited support for the game. This has lead to a shortage of qualified coaches to train the next generation of players.
As a coach Darko Polimac observes a difference in playing styles, suggesting boys tend to play more aggressively, while girls often adopt a more tactical approach.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 May 2006. The reporter is Damien Tiernan.
