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A tragic road
accident on Sunday 23rd September, 2001 claimed five young lives near
Puri, Orissa. The five players - Sekhar, Haricharan, Mekhala Abhinav,
Dasari Minu and Madhuri - were part of the eleven member team from
Andhra Pradesh under International Master Elect P D S Girinath of
Railways. Girinath and his wife, who were proceeding to the FIDE
Rating Open tournament in Puri, by the same car were injured and
admitted to a hospital in Sakhigopal, 40 kms from Bhubaneswar. Abhinav
and Minu, were Asian Age group medal winners and Minu was scheduled to
play the World Children's Chess Festival to be held at Oropesa, Spain
in October. Among the injured were Jayalakshmi, coach Girinath's wife,
Shiva Chaitanya, Abhiram, Shivani and Monogna. The
team was proceeding in a car to participate in the tournament starting
in Puri from Monday 24th September, 2001 when the tragedy occurred.
The car, a Tata Sumo, carrying the team had a collision with a
minibus, which also claimed the lives of the car driver and a
passenger of the bus. The eleven member group which had earlier
arrived at Khurda Road by train from Hyderabad, had hired a car to
proceed to Puri. The
tournament organizers, meanwhile, announced that the tournament is
cancelled as a mark of respect for the young champions' tragic end. PTI
Adds from Hyderabad Meanwhile,
World Champion Viswanathan Anand condoled the death of the five young
chess players Andhra Pradesh. "I am shocked at the
incident and convey my condolences to the bereaved family
members" he said. Anand had arrived in the Cybercity yesterday to
felicitate the Andhra champions, Harikrishna and Humpy. The
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N Chandra Babu Naidu, expressed
profound shock and grief at the death of five chess players from
Andhra Pradesh in a road accident at Sakhigopal, 40 Kms from
Bhubaneswar. Mr Naidu it was particularly sad that they were
proceeding to take part in the FIDE Rated tournament in Puri. He also
instructed the concerned district and hospital authorities to provide
all necessary medical aid to those injured in the accident. Konery
Humpy, the World Junior Champion, was visibly moved and has decided to
skip the felicitation function organized by NIIT in the city on
Monday. " I am not in a mood to move out of home. I am terribly
upset as Mekhala Abhinav played along with me in the age group World
Championships," said Humpy. Related
articles:
Malleswari
appeals for memorial to killed chess players
Uma Bharti shocked at the death of young stars
Chandrababu Naidu announces Rs 2 lakh for families of the kin
Injured IM Girinath out of danger
PTI
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