The Person of the Year

By Sameer A.Salgacor - Goa

http://www.indianchessfed.com/News/2007/January/ivana.asp

 

In a significant development, the popular weekly 'Goa Today' has chosen World Under 8 Girls Champion and Asian Under 7 Schools Champion Ivana Furtado as 'The Person of the Year' for the year 2006.

 

This catapults Ivana into a new league of Goan celebrities and will increase the visibility of Chess in the State drastically. Besides, to be chosen for this award at such a young age, speaks volumes of Ivana's accomplishments and her significance for chess and sports in the tourist friendly state of Goa. Sponsors will definitely take note and there is sure to be increased funding for chess both from the government and the private parties in the future.

In his editorial, Editor Vinayak Naik mentions that 'we did not have to beat our brains one bit to the selection of our title conferee on this occasion' He then added that 'by virtue of her heroic deeds, Ivana virtually chose herself'. 'It had to be Ivana,' he finally concluded.

'Ivana, incidentally, joins the galactic group of 21 'Goa's Greats' decorated by Goa Today previously, her immediate predecessor being none other than the incumbent Goa Chief Minister, Pratapsingh Rane', Vinayak states.