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In search of a helping hand

Chess players like Koneru Humpy face government apathy

Photo: K.R.Deepak

CHECKMATE? Humpy has no sponsor

What do Viswanathan Anand and Koneru Humpy have in common? Well, these outstanding chess players are ranked World No. 2 in men's and women's sections respectively. But the similarity ends there.

But look at the destiny that is staring at Humpy. Arguably the finest woman chess player the country has ever seen, this former World junior champion and twice semi-finalist in the World Cup had to take part in the recent World Cup on her own with no big financial support coming from anywhere. The saving grace being the Sports Authority of India's last minute clearance to bear her travel expenditure.

Ever since Bank of Baroda signed up Indian captain Rahul Dravid as its brand ambassador, it has been a bumpy ride for Humpy in search of decent sponsorship. The usual buzz of excitement amongst the Andhra Pradesh players and officials is clearly missing at Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium in Visakhapatnam, the venue of the on-going National `A' championships for men and women.

It is not just Humpy but many chess players in the State as well, are a confused lot with a change of heart in the Government policy vis-a-vis chess. Not long ago, the same chess players were showered with cash incentives running into lakhs and house sites were also allotted to them.. A phase, which lifted the morale of the chess fraternity and also gave a new thrust to the sport in the State which soon saw many more champions coming up in different age groups.

But things seem to have changed for the worse. Take the case of Andhra Pradesh's first IM Lanka Ravi who is yet to be paid his due for winning the 2003 Asian championship team gold and for qualifying for National `A'. Or even M. Siva Jagan Mohan Rao, who is due a nominal Rs.10,000 for becoming a national arbiter in 2003, and J.N. Padma Rao, international arbiter, who is due Rs.40,000. The players don't raise any dissenting voice when a Gagan Narang or Chetan Anand or a Shruthi Kurien is given a cash incentive. They only hope that the authorities consider their viewpoint in a more sympathetic manner. Are there any takers?

V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

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