Bhubaneswar: International Chess Master Padmini Rout did Odisha proud by winning the gold medal at the Asian Continental Chess Championship at Makati in Philippines on Tuesday.
She bagged the crown by securing seven points in nine rounds.
With the win, the 24-year-old chess master has qualified for the Women’s World Chess Championships scheduled for 2020.
A commerce graduate from BJB College, Bhubaneswar, Padimini started playing chess at a tender age of nine.
She holds the titles of International Master and Woman Grandmaster. She won the World under-14 girls’ championship in 2008 and has been holding sway in Indian women’s championship for the last four years (2014,2015, 2016, 2017).
In 2010, she won the Indian Junior (U19) Girls Championship and bagged the bronze medal at both Asian and World Junior Girls Championships.
The Odisha government had felicitated her with Biju Patnaik Sports Award in 2007 and Eklavya Award in 2009.
