from Daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, May 10: The Indian chess team, scheduled to participate in the Olympiad to be held at Turin in Italy from May 19 to June 5, is attending a training camp in Goa.

"All players are working on their game under the guidance of Spanish coach Ubilava Elizbar, who has been coaching the Indian team," All India Chess Federation Vice-president Sameer Salgaoncar said.

Indian team comprises GMs Anand Vishwanathan (2803), Harikrishna (2680), Shashikiran Krishnan (2692), Suryashekha Ganguly (2579) and Sandipan Chenda (2546) and IM-norm holder Divakar Prasad Singh (2396).

"Except Vishwanathan, everyone is participating in the camp at Ponda," said Salgaoncar adding that D P Singh was a new entrant into the squad which finished sixth in Olympiad, 2004.

"We are basically working on openings, middle game position, which are required to play a good game against strong teams like Russia and Ukraine to earn crucial points," said GM Harikrishna.

"Such camps are important to built good relationship between the members as at olympiad it is a team event".

"We are deciding our strategies for the Olympiad. Our coach is also watching our game carefully to gauge our strengths," Harikrishna said.

The Indian team would have to play against strong oppositions but it expects to be in the top four in seedings, Harikrishna said and added that "there are huge expectations from the team."