The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ONGC likely to employ Humpy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 18, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

ONGC likely to employ Humpy

V.V. Subrahmanyam

Chess champ expected to join as an officer

HYDERABAD: Finally World No. 2 Koneru Humpy can heave a sigh of relief for the `queen-in-waiting' in women's chess is likely to sign up with the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) soon, courtesy efforts of Andhra's first International Master Lanka Ravi.

Ever since Bank of Baroda opted for India cricket captain Rahul Dravid as its brand ambassador terminating its sponsorship with Humpy, she had been struggling on this count.

With Humpy agreeing to the terms and conditions of ONGC, she is expected to joint the organisation as an officer.

A relief

More importantly, she can breathe easy in terms of taking part in all the foreign tournaments, as her employers will also be taking care of a major chunk of the expenditure. Recently Humpy took part in the World Cup literally on her own, with SAI only paying for her travel .

In fact, efforts to rope in Humpy began during the last month's National `A' chess championships in Vizag. . The ONGC gesture could not have come at a more appropriate time as Koneru Ashok, Humpy's father and coach, had begun communicating personally to different corporates seeking financial support. This should help Humpy focus on international events and realise her ultimate dream of becoming `queen of world chess'.

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