The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : New Year fails to bring good news to Humpy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

New Year fails to bring good news to Humpy

V V Subrahmanyam

Government's lukewarm response may do her in

HYDERABAD: It is New Year time for many. But, it is the same old story for chess genius Koneru Humpy. For someone who is ranked World No.2 in women's section and No.1 in juniors category in a sport played by more than 100 countries across the world, this Vijayawada girl is still struggling to find sponsors. Worse, she has decided to embark on a trip to Netherlands to play in the Corus International Grandmasters chess tournament which is a category 14 event featuring 12 Grandmasters.

Tapping NRIs

What is more disappointing is the lukewarm response from the Government and also from the Corporate groups. This is amidst the backdrop of the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh's concerted efforts to tap prospective NRIs, who were here as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. "We have identified some select NRIs and decided to communicate to them regularly giving them even the list of likely international medallists in the world of sport from the State," says G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, SAAP VC & MD. But, what worries Humpy is the fact that they just cannot wait any longer looking helplessly for financial support. So stringing whatever resources they has, she has decided to take part in the Corus event which she feels is important, ahead of the World championship in Russia in March.

Switching loyalty

Ironically, all of Humpy's preparations were confined to the indoors of her residence under the tutelage of her father-cum-coach Koneru Ashok. Once BoB, which sponsored the chess prodigy for close to eight years, switched their loyalty to Indian cricket captain Rahul Dravid, things never looked the same. Participation in international events has become almost negligible. How can we manage the air travel and boarding expenses if we don't have any support, asks a disappointed Ashok?

When referred to Humpy's plight, the top SAAP official says they might not be in a position to dole out huge cash incentives for Humpy, but will definitely consider a piece-meal package like taking care of travel expenditure for some of the big events. Well, even the incentives due to her from the SAAP were yet to be cleared to her.

Only time will tell whether Humpy will be able to sustain interest in the sport or let her talent drift away to a point of no return.

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