Botswana Chess star Besa Basaiti.PC:Phodiso Gaebepe.
BY: Kabelo Seleka
Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) 2020 Metropolitan Open Chess Champion WCM Besa Basaiti has earned herself an elite scholarship to study in the USA courtesy of the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC).
The BNSC Elite athlete scholarship meant that Besa Basaiti is the first women chess player to be granted one.
The chess star has already started her studies online looking to take off to the USA in January for the Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Actuarial Science for Texas Technology University in Lubbock program.
TALKING POINTS
Besa Basaiti finds a new home of chess
Botswana Chess Federation happy
BESA BASAITI UNIVERSITY IS THE HOME OF CHESS
Besa Basaiti’s new school is said to be the home of chess in the USA, the university is the 2020 chess college of the year.
In a smartphone interview with SPORTSNATION, Besa Basaiti says that she will be housed within a vigorous chess program led by top-ranked chess grandmasters.
“For the chess program, it is headed by coach Grand Master Alex Onischuk, who has a great team of players amongst them the world junior champion,” said Besa Basaiti.
The chess sensation got 48 points in her BGCSE exam.
BCF APPRECIATES THE SCHOLARSHIP
In an interview with the media recently, Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Kutlwano Tatolo said that they appreciate the scholarship more so that they have not been successful when applying for their athletes.
According to BNSC website, “The goal of the Programme is to provide a pathway for talented young sportsmen and sportswomen aged 21 and below, to progress their sports development to world-class excellence whilst securing future prosperity through balanced academic and training tertiary education programs.”
Tatolo stressed that Besa Basaiti is both academically and chess talented thus deserving the BNSC Elite athlete scholarship.
Besa Basaiti’s fine form was recognized once more in 2019 when she scooped BNSC Young Sports Woman of the year.
Besa Basaiti will be playing for Night Traders Chess Club in Texas, USA.
“The journey, I hope it is going to be a great one, I hope I am going to increase myself while in there, and also balance the school and chess,” concluded Besa Basaiti.
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