Passport hitch ruins youngster's Olympiad dream

Failure to get a passport before the July 15 registration deadline means rising chess star Sandrine Uwase will not play at the 2016 Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan in September. Rwanda Chess Federation (FERWADE) president Kevin Ganza told Times Sport that circumstances leading to the unfortunate development “proved unavoidable” but the federation will follow up to avoid a repeat in the future. Ganza said: “It is so sad our rising talent will not participate in the Olympiad. There is no doubt Sandrine is a future chess star. We just missed a potential board two player of the ladies’ national team. But we shall follow up to ensure she doesn’t miss out on other opportunities.” The parents of the 14-year old feel it was their fault her passport application file was not readied on time. Alexis Rusa, her father, said: “I blame myself. Looking at her training last week, not knowing that she wouldn’t make the team, it broke my heart. I couldn’t gather the courage to tell her. We shall get the passport even though it’s too late. Hopefully, she will not miss any other tournament in similar circumstances.” After the final round in the women’s qualifiers mid last month, the teenager was second best after Marie-Faustine Shimwa, who the reigning female national champion. The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament where teams from all over the world compete. Rwanda hopes to field two teams – the open and women section teams – at the competition. Each team has five players. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Passport hitch ruins youngster's Olympiad dream