13 February,2018 09:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
Soundarya Kumar (left) and Prachurya Kumar Pradhan with their trophies at Andheri Sports Complex on Sunday. Pic/Sneha Kharabe
While blind chess genius Kishan Gangooli grabbed eyeballs after winning his fifth consecutive National Blind 'A' title on Sunday, there were two brothers from Odisha - Prachurya Kumar Pradhan and Soundarya Kumar - who earned plaudits as well. Soundarya, 18, younger of the two, bagged a third place finish and was selected for July's World Blind Team Chess Championship in Bulgaria. However, Prachurya, 21, missed out by a whisker (.5 points). He finished sixth overall after drawing his last game against Gangooli.'
Prachurya, a doting brother
Interestingly, it was Prachurya who first taught his brother the tricks of chess. "We began practising together and are now on the same level. I'm really sad Prachurya missed the World Team Championship slot," Soundarya said. Even though Prachurya guided Soundarya to excel, he is still awaiting his first win against his younger brother. "I have won a few games and drawn some, but I have not lost a single game to him. He is a very strong player," Soundarya added.
Soundarya, a Class XII science student, who wants to study astrophysics, felt blind chess players should never be over-ambitious. "We should focus on what we have and should not worry too much about what we don't. In fact, what we have is enough to achieve a lot and create history," he added. Meanwhile, Prachurya, a Chartered Accountancy student, who scored 95.5 per cent in Class X and 86 per cent in Class XII, studying with sighted students, has his plans set.
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Concrete plans ahead
"I secured a distinction in the Common Proficiency Test last year, which is the first step in my journey to become a CA. I've completed the Group One of Intermediate Professional Competence Course examination as well. Now, I will appear for Group Two in May and wil do an internship with a professional CA before the final examination," said Prachurya.
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