By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
DAVAO City woodpushers are undergoing rigid training for the 11th Asean Age-Group Chess Championships slated June 4 to 13 in Subic, Olongapo City.
National Age-Group Chess Championship girls under-eight silver medalist Irish Yngayo, girls under-12 bronze medalist Ella Grace Moulic, girls under-14 bronze medalist Dhona Yngayo, and her sister girls under-16 bronze medalist Nikki Erica Yngayo on Thursday said they are preparing hard for their first-ever Asean Age-Group Chess Championships stint.
The four girls graced the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn Thursday (May 27) sans National Age-Group Chess boys under-14 champion Austin Jacob Literatus, who is reportedly seeing action in the ongoing Kabasan Open Chess Tournament at the Island Garden City of Samal.
Literatus was a rapid gold medalist in the Asean event held in Vietnam last year.
"Andam nako mudula. Nagsige man ko ug praktis matag adlaw uban akong mga ig-agaw. Wala man ko gikulbaan basta himuon ra nako ang tanan para mudaug (I'm ready to compete. I've been practicing every day with my cousins. I'm not nervous though. I'll just do my best to win)," Irish Yngayo said.
Irish, whose favorite opening is the King's Indian, was referring to cousins Nikki and Dhona, who live in just one compound with the rest of the Yngayos in Toril.
Dhona Yngayo said she trains the whole day for the big event.
"Expectations? I want to be an Asean champion (laughs). I've trained hard for it every day with my sister Nikki and father Eric. I just take a break when I eat. It's good to have coach Henry Fajardo also helping us with our openings," the 12-year-old Dhona Yngayo said.
The 16-year-old Nikki Yngayo incorporates physical training to her preparations.
"I jog at the beach and also swim. Sometimes, I play basketball. Physical training is very helpful for my stamina. It would be useless if I prepare mentally and yet will end up sleepy in the tournament. Being physically fit will also help me be awake in my games," Nikki Yngayo said in the vernacular.
Moulic, meanwhile, said she won't make any predictions.
"I'll do the best I can. I practice with my father and play in the laptop," Moulic said.
While Moulic and the Yngayo sisters admitted they are more confident playing the standard chess, Irish said she is confident playing the standard, rapid, and blitz events all entered in the Asean meet.
The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) is funding the traveling expenses of the Dabawenyos to Subic as they represent the country to the prestigious spectacle in chess.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on May 28, 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment