Okay. Humpy. File picture.
| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
Two-time Asian Games gold medallist Grandmaster Koneru Humpy might give the continental multi-discipline occasion later this yr a miss because the Games are being held in China, the nation the place the lethal COVID-19 virus reportedly originated and unfold the world over in 2020.
The virus has largely been contained in most elements of the world.
The newest World Health Organisation (WHO) knowledge reveals that between January 3, 2020 and April 5 this yr, China recorded 99,238,586 COVID-19 instances with 120,896 fatalities.
The world’s most populous nation has not reported any new COVID-19 case in the final 24 hours, in accordance to WHO.
China was initially scheduled to host the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022 however postponed the quadrennial showpiece occasion by a yr due to the pandemic.
Asked about her expectations on the Asian Games, the place chess is about to return after 13 years — the final time the game was a part of the curriculum was in 2010 Guangzhou, Humpy stated, “Well I’m not sure about my participation in the Asian Games because it’s being held in China.” “Because of China, I’m not sure I’ll participate. Probably I’ll be deciding in June or July. (It’s) because of COVID, what else could be the reason (not) to go to China,” Humpy told PTI on the sidelines of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, which concluded here on Wednesday.
“I actually wished to play the Asian Games. But I’m a bit sad that it is being held in China. So, let me assume and resolve upon that,” the winner of the Women’s World Rapid Chess in 2019 added.
According to the Union Health Ministry, India still have 25,587 active COVID-19 cases across the country.
Humpy, now 36, was a teenager when she won the women’s individual and mixed team gold at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Being one of the top India woman chess exponents – the other being D. Harika – Humpy should be an automatic choice to make the India team for the Hangzhou Games scheduled to commence on September 23 this year.
Humpy, who was part of the women’s team that won the historic Chess Olympiad bronze at Mahabalipuram last year, added that the All India Chess Federation (AICF) should do more for women’s chess.
She categorically said there wasn’t enough encouragement for women to take up chess in the country.
“There is not sufficient encouragement for the women (in India) — encouragement in the sense that we have no particular ladies’s occasions or any type of coaching. We aren’t ready to inspire them.
“I think, that’s one of the reasons (for women not taking up the sport). What I believe is, our success is completely an individual effort,” she added.
She additionally identified that demographic points had been a giant obstacle in the expansion of ladies’s chess.
“For boys, it’s easy to form groups and work together, but for girls that is tough as we are placed at different locations. So, unless someone like the federation (AICF) takes that initiative to gather some girls and train them (it would be difficult for girls).
“I believe that is what the Chinese do; collect the proficient gamers and coaching them. That’s how their provide line by no means dries up,” opined Humpy.
Humpy also called on the AICF to organise more tournaments and send players abroad to train so that they can hone their skills.
“The federation can host tournaments, or they will ship gamers overseas. They ought to kind out their (gamers’) monetary points and organise some coaching camps in order that they will enhance their abilities,” added Humpy, who now only plays for the love of the game rather than to win laurels.
“Nowadays, I do not goal something. I merely need to get pleasure from my sport. I simply love to play fairly than goal for laurels. That’s extra essential for me,” said Humpy, adding that a sport like chess should also be a part of the Olympic curriculum.”
