Miss Manasa K  and Master Viani Antonio D'Cunha of Mangalore have been selected by All India Chess Federation (AICF) to be part of the Indian Team leaving for Tehran,Iran to participate in the Asian Youth Chess Championships to be held from 15th to 21st July 2008.

Manasa was selected based on her performance in the  National Under 17 Chess 2007 held at Puri,Orissa. A 2nd PUC student of  Sharada PU College, Mangalore, Manasa has the credit of being  the first ever   lady  chess player  from DK District and perhaps the first ever girl selected  from  Karnataka  to participate in the Asian Chess Tournament. Currently rated 1987 by FIDE,Manasa is the reigning  Karnataka State Women Chess Champion.She will be playing in the Under 18 Girls Category at Tehran along with her Indian Team mates R Preethi and P Uthra of Tamil Nadu.

Manasa has the record of having participated in more than 125 Chess Tournaments and won many prizes including the National School Chess Team Gold medals twice.Manasa is daughter of Mr Sudhakaran Kongot and Mrs N Geetha-both employed in Canara Bank,Mangalore.

Master Viani Antonio D'Cunha has been selected to participate in the Asian Youth Chess Championships 2008 at Tehran ,Iran in the Under 16 Open Category based on his performance in the National Sub-Junior (U-15) Chess Championship 2007 held at Chennai. Viani  already has a rich experience of participation in international chess tournaments held in Dubai,Singapore,and is presently playing in Spain.Last week only Viani A D'Cunha has won the Best U-14 and 2nd Prize of 150 Euros in the 2100-2200 FIDE Rating Category in the Sort Open International Chess Tournament held in Spain.

Viani is  counted amongst  the most promising chess talents of our state and is rated 2114 by FIDE.Having participated in more than 100 chess tournaments since the tender age of 5,Viani has many luarals to his credit including the National U-9 runner up and National School Chess Team Gold Medal.An 8th std student of St.Aloysius High School,Mangalore, Viani is son of Mr Harold D'Cunha who is working in a Shipping firm in Dubai and Mrs Syble Lydia D'Cunha,Secretary of South Kanara District Chess Assn,Mangalore.