David Arutinyan head coach of Georgian Women Team and player Salome Melia after finishing the second round of Chess Olympiad were asked for an interview in press-conference hall. Their interview was published in official site of Olympiad.
-First of all let me ask about your goal, are you for victory in Khanti Mansyk?
Arutinyan: Yes, we are! We are 2008 Olympic Champions and certainly we are here for victory. Our team won the second place in European Championship in 2009. We prepared quite well for Olympiad and we are doing our best for achieving our goal.
- Why legend Maya Chiburdanidze did not arrive?
Arutinyan: Maia is very strong chess player and certainly she is great loss of us. In 2008 she beat all her opponents and got the first place in singles and became heroine of Dresden Olympiad. She does not play in this Olympiad due to objective reasons. She had many difficulties in the last tournament… In spite of these, we will try to show the same results as we did in the last Olympiad.
- Will another Georgian legend Nona Gafrindashvili arrive in Khanti Mansyik, for example as honorary guest?
Arutinyan: I do not have exact information about her arrival. But as far as I know, the country which will have the best showing in women as well as in men teams will be awarded with Nona’s Cup and traditionally Nona Gafrindashvili awards participants herself.
- Salome, whom you consider your main opponent?
Melia: AS usual our main opponents are Russia and Ukraine. But we have just started playing and who is in the best condition will be found out soon.
- Did you miss China team?
Arutinyan: Maybe, she forgot. (smiling)
Melia: You got to excuse me. I stated three favorites, to my mind they are the following: Georgia, Russia and Ukraine.
- David, can you say the preparation secret of Olympic Champions..
Arutinyan: The secret is for not to be said.
Melia: We will make every secret clear after finishing the tournament.
- What can you say about host city? Did you like everything or there are some shortcomings?
Melia: We have not seen many things yet. The main is that there is good weather in Khanti Mansyik and it reflects on our mood.
Arutinyan:Personally, I like everything here. They host perfect. At first we thought that there would be cold weather here but here is very warm as for weather as people.
- Davit, what are men team’s prospects?
Arutinyan: - As for active chess player and the former member of National Team can say that Georgian Team has big potential and have possibility. Certainly, there is strong competition, there are some may strong teams and players at Olympiad. But our team can show all kind of result if they will do their best. In last Olympiad we took the 11st place and now, if we do our best and will be lucky, can improve our results.