Sri Lanka grabbed home a haul of 9 medals at the 7th Western Asian Youth Chess Championships including 3 gold medals as the tournament drew to a deduction at the Citrus Hotel Waskaduwa, recently.
The three gold medalists for Sri Lanka came in J Vaneesha Oshini Gomes (U10 Girls) who recorded 8 out of a possible 9 points to dominate her age category, AP Chenitha Sihas Dinsara Karunasena (U10 Open) who scored 7.5/9 points and Sethumlee Devhara Palliyage (U12 Girls) who scored 7/9 points. All three players came into the final round as the leaders of their individual age categories and would consolidate their place at the top of the podium in the final round.
In adding to the 3 gold medals, Sri Lanka won four silver medals through Hasini Anuththara Ranasinghe (U08 Girls), UG Janiru Nethmitha (U08 Open), Vinuka Dihain Wijerathna (U12 Open) and DDLN Dandeniya (U14 Open). The two Lankan bronze medalists were MA Sanuka Sangeeth Kulathilaka (U08 Open) and JM Theruni V Jayasundara (U14 Girls).
India was the most effective country at the tournament with a total of 4 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 3 bronze medals with Sri Lanka closely behind with 9 medals. Kazakhstan also won 2 golds, 2 silvers and 3 bronze medals to be the third best nation at the tournament. Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan went home with a gold medal apiece.
The prize giving was held on July 15 at the Temple Trees with the participation of the Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena as the chief guest.
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