New format to help India in Chess Olympiad

New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) The Indian team for the Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany have good medal prospects due to the new format introduced this year.

The placing will be based on wins and not points. A 4-0 win and 2.5-1.5 win will give the same two points. With the yardstick for measuring success changing, it can help strong teams like India.

The Indian team, which finished 30th in men and 12th in women at Turin 2006, will be sponsored by India Cements to the tune of Rs.1 million.

Unlike in 2006, India will at full force all-GM team: Krishnan Sasikiran, Pentala Harikrishna, Surya Sekhar Ganguly, Sandipan Chanda, G.N. Gopal.

The women's team will be headed by the reigning World Junior girls champion Dronavalli Harika. The other four players are Tania Sachdev, Swati Ghate, Nisha Mohota and Mary Ann Gomes.

The coaches with the team are grandmasters Lev Psakhis of Israel for men, Elizbar Ubilava of Georgia for women. The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has also sent a Coaching co-ordinator K. Visweswaran.

Gopal of Kerala in men and Asian women's champion Tania of Delhi will be making their debut.

The AICF conducted three preparatory camps for both the teams and the last camp started in Dresden, Germany Nov 4.

Armenia (men) and Ukraine (women) are the defending champions.