Indians brimming with confidence

Karthik is the current Indian junior champion while Tejas Bakre qualified on the strength of his Asian sub-junior title winning performance in Mumbai.However, India8217;s best bet in the championship to be held from May 9 to 21 is Vijayalakshmi Subburaman in the girls competition. Her teammate Pallavi Shah should give her a run for the money. 8220;I hope to do well,8221; said Pallavi, who hails from Kolhapur.

Karthik, a second year engineering student in Pondicherry, said he hoped to come back witha medal. 8220;I have not had any chess since my National junior in Kozhikode in January, but I am confident,8221; he said.

P Harikrishna should also be a leading light in the under-14 category. India8217;s entry in the under-12 category Deepan Chakravarthy of Tamil Nadu is a talented boy, according to Ramesh.

8220;This is only his first international outing and it is to be seen how he adapts himself to the atmosphere,8221; he remarked.

Deepan, who has completed his sixth standard in Madurai, is coached by former national A player S Rengarajan.

Aarthie Ramaswamy of Tamil Nadu, the current Asian sub-junior girls champion, like Karthik, was busy with her examinations and has not had much of chess since her Asian title triumph in Mumbai in December. Laisenram Mahesh of Manipur is India8217;s under-10 entry.

Gaurang Mehta, the coach of the age-group team, like Ramesh was confident that India would do well in the competition. The team is expected to arrive here on Saturday.