Chess team scoops bronze at U/15 Games in Serbia

Namibia’s Karlush Ipangelwa won a bronze medal at the U15 World School Sport Games in Belgrade, Serbia, on Friday.

FiDE Master Semen Mitusov from Ukraine won gold with 4.5 points out of 5 – and Ivan Sidletskyi, also from Ukraine, won silver with 4 points.

In his last game of the last round (5), Ipangelwa played compatriot Galeshewe Jane and won.

This victory gave him 4 points out of 5, awarding him a bronze medal.

In other matches played, Namibia’s Stefan Becker lost to Mathew Mwase from Uganda, while Women’s Candidate Master Jamie-Nicole Beukes and Siglinde Abraham – both from Namibia – played to a draw.

Lure Horn played Maria Naganyike from Uganda but lost.

AnzhelikaLomakinafromUkraine came first with 5 out of 5 points and won gold in the girls’ competition.

Mariya Manko also from Ukraine was second with 4 out of 5 and won silver, while Ana Tadic from Serbia came third with 3 out of 5 points and won bronze.

Namibia was represented by six chess players. They competed against Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro and Uganda in a 5-Round Rapid Chess Tournament.

Team manager Juliet Beukes was excited and proud of Ipangelwa’s performance.

“The team did their best and were very well disciplined. It was an incredible experience for growth and development for all the players. The tournament motivated and encouraged them to go back home and work even harder,” she told New Era Sport.

Meanwhile, the Ipangelwa’s bronze push Namibia’s overall medal tally at the Games up to 16.

The track and field athletes amassed 15 medals (seven gold, six silver and two bronze) earlier last week.

The team is expected home today.