Dishita Dey of Jharkhand made an impressive debut in the international arena by securing sixth place in the Asian School Chess Championships for under-7 girls which concluded on Sunday.
The event was played online over 9 rounds Swiss rapid play. The event attracted 39 players from 24 countries of Asia. Dishita scored 6 points out of possible 9 from as many rounds.
India's Samhita Pungavanam won the gold by pushing her teammate Charvi A to silver on better tie break as both tied with 8 points each. The bronze went to Ventura Gaye Thalia of Philippines who scored 7.5 points. The 4th and 5th spot too went to Indian players Narayanan Rishitha and Ira Bohara who scored 7 and 6.5 points, respectively.
The state's chess fraternity congratulated Dishita for her debut performance and wished her a great future ahead.
"Dishita played well in her international debut. She will make more progress in future," said All Jharkhand Chess Association secretary Neeraj Kumar Mishra, an International Master.
International arbiter and chief coach at Tata Chess Centre in Jamshedpur Jayant Kumar Bhuyan also praised Dishita and said the kid has a bright future. "I am happy with her (Dishita) performance. She will improve her game as she grows," he added.
Dishita, who recently stood 6th at the recently concluded Online National School Chess Championship for Under-7 girls and qualified for the Asian Meet, is a student of standard II at Narayana School in Calcutta. She is the daughter of former Jharkhand women’s champion Alka Das. She opted to play for Jharkhand and is registered with the state chess association.
Dishita hones her chess skills under her Jamshedpur-based maternal uncles Dushyant and Abhishek Das. Karnataka Grandmaster M.S. Thejkumar also chips in with guidance to the kid. She is the cousin of Jharkhand chess prodigy Adhiraj Mitra who will represent the country in the Asian School Chess Championship for Under-9 to be played from July 29 to 31.
The talented Dishita has won the recently concluded online state championship in the under-10 age group and has also represented Jharkhand in virtual under-10 and under-12 national events.
