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Looking for a godfather
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These chess champions need financial backing to stay in the race
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Photo: P. V. Sivakumar
IT WAS a sight that would have easily touched the hearts of many sports administrators. Two young talented chess players - Tejaswini Reddy (11) and Chandana Priya Reddy (10) - were presented before the media to showcase their excellence and their determination to pursue the sport despite lack of financial backing. They do not belong to the also-played category. Chandana bagged the silver in the Commonwealth championship in Mumbai and a team gold in the Asian youth chess in Singapore. And, Tejaswini proved to be a better player winning the gold in the same Commonwealth meet.
At an age when they were just about to break into the big league, the lack of sponsorship apparently made their parents - S. Mukherji Reddy and Kausalya - wonder whether they did the right thing by encouraging their children to play chess. Incidentally, Mukherji works in a private firm and sponsoring his daughters is beyond his means. If the siblings were to continue playing chess, they need minimum financial support to let them take part in at least two to three events.
They have to shell out about Rs. 15,000 to coach Rishipal Singh per month. Compounding their woes is the negative response these youngsters have received from the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh. They were told that the policy guidelines don't facilitate any financial help. The parents contend that there can always be exceptions for talented and performing individuals.
They say that the same two players were given about Rs 1.20 lakhs as cash incentives by the Sports Authority of India only last month. So, the big question is - why is SAAP not considerate in this case?
And if the response continues to be dismal, even from corporate groups, the family has no option but leave for Pondicherry at least to see that their academic career is not affected in the Regency Public School.
This media interaction took place even as Sania Mirza was named brand ambassador for a telecom group. No disputes here about Sania's stature.
But don't these young children, inspired by WGM Koneru Humpy, also deserve a re-look?
V. V. SUBRAHMANYAM
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