<p>Karnataka’s Girish Koushik, who won the silver medal at the World Youth chess championship, said on Sunday that the podium finish would give him the confidence for the bigger challenges ahead.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 15-year-old Girish won eight, lost two and drew one in the 11-game tournament to finish second in the under-16 category at Maribor in Slovenia. <br /><br />“It was tough to win a medal. This was my first medal at the World meet after 2006, so I am really happy with the silver. The medal helped me to gain lot of confidence,” pointed out Girish, who scored 8.5 points out of a possible 11 in the championship. <br /><br />Russians Eliseev Urii (9 points) and Chigaev Maksim (8) claimed the gold and bronze respectively. The Mysore lad had clinched the title in the under-10 category in Batumi, Georgia, in 2006. <br /><br />Girish, the 10th standard student of St Thomas High School, will be focusing more on his studies now before taking part in major tournaments.<br /><br /> “Right now, I am focusing on my studies as I am in 10th standard. But next year I will be competing in more meets. The Asian championship (age-group) next year will be my priority where I am planning to compete in the under-18 category,” said Girish.<br /><br />Girish, however, laments lack of funding which has restrained him from taking part in more tournaments. “I am yet to get sponsors, so I could compete only in few tournaments,” revealed Girish.<br /><br />Girish had won the under-16 title in the Asian Youth chess championship in Sri Lanka.</p>
<p>Karnataka’s Girish Koushik, who won the silver medal at the World Youth chess championship, said on Sunday that the podium finish would give him the confidence for the bigger challenges ahead.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The 15-year-old Girish won eight, lost two and drew one in the 11-game tournament to finish second in the under-16 category at Maribor in Slovenia. <br /><br />“It was tough to win a medal. This was my first medal at the World meet after 2006, so I am really happy with the silver. The medal helped me to gain lot of confidence,” pointed out Girish, who scored 8.5 points out of a possible 11 in the championship. <br /><br />Russians Eliseev Urii (9 points) and Chigaev Maksim (8) claimed the gold and bronze respectively. The Mysore lad had clinched the title in the under-10 category in Batumi, Georgia, in 2006. <br /><br />Girish, the 10th standard student of St Thomas High School, will be focusing more on his studies now before taking part in major tournaments.<br /><br /> “Right now, I am focusing on my studies as I am in 10th standard. But next year I will be competing in more meets. The Asian championship (age-group) next year will be my priority where I am planning to compete in the under-18 category,” said Girish.<br /><br />Girish, however, laments lack of funding which has restrained him from taking part in more tournaments. “I am yet to get sponsors, so I could compete only in few tournaments,” revealed Girish.<br /><br />Girish had won the under-16 title in the Asian Youth chess championship in Sri Lanka.</p>
