Chess: Indonesian Junior High School Team Wins Three Gold Medals

Jakarta, (Antara) - Indonesia's junior high school (SMP) team won three gold medals in the 7th Penang Heritage City International Chess Open 2015 in Penang, Malaysia, on December 7-12.

The gold medal winners are Muhammad Khairul Umam (winner of chess championship), Syiffa Akiyya Sari (for best title for 14-years old) and Evi Yuli Ana (as best women's player).

"This achievement is a pride," director of junior high school development, Dr Supriano MEd, said here on  Sunday.

The Directorate of Junior High School Development of the Directorate General of Elementary Education of the ministry of education has sent six students who were winners of gold, silver and bronze medals in the National School Students Sports Olympic (O2SN) 2015 in Makassar, South Sulawesi to the championship.

They are Muhammad Khoirul Umam (SMPN 1 Kembangbahu), Evi Yuli Ana (SMPN 32 Semarang), Muhammad Sultan (SMPN4 Balikpapan), Syaifa Akiyya Sari (SMPN3 Sleman), Alberto Pramana Martin Silaen (SMPN 7 Bandung) and Gracelia Paramesthi Samekto (SMPN 1 Kuta Utara).

They received coaching from an Indonesia Chess Association team led by Hendry Jamal for two weeks from November 23 to December 9 in Jakarta before going to the championship in Malaysia.

The tournament in Penang was participated in by 190 chess players from 11 countries including Malaysia, the US, Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Britain, France, India, Australia and Indonesia.

This was the first participation of the Directorate of Junior High School Development in the championship in 2015.

Its team won two gold and one bronze medals in the World School Chess Championship 2014 in Brazil.(*)
reporting by indriani