India wins silver at World Women's Chess Championship
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Harika Dronavalli via Facebook
India won a silver medal, after losing to Russia, in the finale of the FIDE World Women's Team Chess Championship. The Indian team lost to the strong Russian team by 0-2.
The Russian team lost the first match 1.5-2-5 but came back strong in the second (3-1). D Harika held Goryachkina to a draw as did R Vaishali (Elo 2149) against the higher-rated Alexandra Kosteniuk (Elo 2517), reported NDTV.
India's Tania Sachdev and Mary Ann Gomes lost to higher rated players Katernya Lagno and Polina Shuvalova. Sachdeva kept up for 53 moves before losing to Lagno. Gomes kept up with 48 moves in a Sicilian Kann Variation game.
Earlier, former world champion Kosteniuk beat young Vaishali on the second board while Bhakti Kulkarni lost to Lagno.
India was in good form throughout the tournament. The team finished second in the preliminary Pool A by winning three matches. One match was lost to Russia in Pool A as well. India entered the final defeating the strong Georgian team.
