India can finish on podium in World Team Chess: Surya

The likes of Viswanathan Anand and Pentala Harikrishna may have opted out, but India can still finish on the podium at the upcoming World Team Chess Championships in Astana next month, former Asian champion Surya Sekhar Ganguly said Saturday.

India's top three, Anand (world number 7), Harikrishna (26) and Vidit Gujarati (34) have pulled out of the 10-team premier championship for which the country has got a wildcard entry after being nominated by the FIDE president.

In the trio's absence, India's challenge in the men's section will be spearheaded by the next five top rated players -- world number 52 B Adhiban, Krishnan Sasikiran (67), SP Sethuraman (102), Surya (130) and Arvind Chithambaram (240).

"By rating we may not be high but we are one of the youngest teams with the likes of Sethu, Adhiban and Arvind. We have got a very decent chances to finish podium," Surya told PTI before leaving for the Aeroflot Open in Moscow from February 18.

The Moscow meet will serve as a preparation for