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Will the honour come his way?
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Koneru Ashok cannot be dismissed lightly when it comes to bestowing the highest award
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Photo: H. Satish
The drona and sishya Koneru Ashok, the man behind Humpy’s success
Koneru Ashok cannot be faulted if he has a dream – to receive the Dronacharya Award - the highest award given to a coach. Considering the fact that this chess coach has moulded Koneru Humpy into a Junior World champion.
For someone who quit a lecturer post the moment he realised his daughter has the potential to be a chess champion, Ashok has been relentlessly pursuing a goal – to see Humpy crowned the world champion. Humpy may still have a long way to go but that she doesn’t even entertain the idea of a having a ‘second’ trainer at the time when she has entered the most decisive phase of her career is itself a tribute to the efficacy of Ashok.
Being a national player himself, he may not have stormed the Indian chess like his daughter. But that he is good enough, articulate and intelligent to grasp the best of the complications on the board is what exactly Humpy looks from him in her pursuit for excellence.
And when Humpy won two significant titles – the Netherlands and the Luxembourg Open events featuring the men’s Grandmasters last week - the timing of the event cannot be ignored. The victory has come when the members on the panel will decide on the next Dronacharya.
“Any honour is welcome. It is not that I look at this Dronacharya Award as a parallel objective. But definitely these things do lift the morale and spirit of any individual,” says Ashok. “If this award comes to me this time, it should only help Humpy in a big way. She will see it as a recognition of my contribution,” he explains.
How difficult is it to coach Humpy? “ You have to be very careful and sensitive to her feelings. There is a thin dividing line which we never crossed. We are enjoying the long partnership on the chess board which was given a major thrust when Humpy won the World under-10 title in 1997.”
Not many can question Ashok’s credentials given Humpy’s amazing success story. And when the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh forwarded the application this year and for a change the All India Chess Federation too taking keen interest, he has every reason to be optimistic.
V.V.S.
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