MARGAO
Reputed chess player Bhakti Kulkarni thanked everyone who helped her along her journey. The Margao-born chess player will be conferred the Arjuna Award by President Droupadi Murmu in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the sport on November 30 at Rashtra Bhavan, Mumbai.
She said this award will inspire many youngsters to take up sports and mainly chess. The International Master is the first woman from the State to receive the award. Only two Goans have been bestowed with the Arjuna Award earlier -- Padma Shri Brahmanand Shankhwalkar (1998) and Bruno Coutinho (2001), both footballers.
Bhakti is among 25 athletes, including fellow chess player R Praggnanandhaa, shuttlers Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, woman boxer Nikhat Zareen, athletes Eldhose Paul, Avinash Sable, who have been nominated for the Arjuna Award this year.
For Bhakti, the award comes as due recognition for her performances as one of India's top women chess stars. It also caps a memorable year for the 30-year-old after she helped India win a bronze medal at the 44th Chess Olympiad held in Chennai.
The first Woman Grandmaster from Goa is a pioneer of the sport in the State having won multiple titles in her career, including the Asian Chess Women's Championship.
"It is a great honour for me to receive the Arjuna Award. I would like to thank all the people who stood by me on this journey, the coaches, all the fans, my friends and my family," Kulkarni said.
"It is such an unbelievable feeling when your hard work gets acknowledged. I will continue to work hard to make my country proud. Congratulations to all the awardees. This would not be possible without your love, support and encouragement," Kulkarni added.
