"Because Of Covid" Grandmaster Koneru Humpy Unsure Of Competing At Asian games In China

Double Asian Games gold medallist Grandmaster Koneru Humpy is unsure about her participation in the continental event later this year as it is being held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, saying she'll make up her mind closer to the showpiece event. Humpy was a teenager when she won the women's individual and mixed team gold at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Being one of the top India woman chess exponents – the other being D. Harika – Humpy should be the automatic choice to make the India team for the Hangzhou Games scheduled to commence on September 23. But Humpy, told PTI on the sidelines of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix, which concluded here on Wednesday, that she was “unhappy" that the Asian Games were happening in China.

Asked about her expectations at the Asian Games, where chess is set to return after 13 years, Humpy said, “Well I'm not sure about my participation in the Asian Games because it's being held in China.

"Because of China, I'm not sure I'll participate. Probably I'll be deciding in June or July. (It's) because of COVID, what else could be the reason to go to China,” she added.

“I really wanted to play the Asian Games. But I'm a bit unhappy that it's being held in China. So, let me think and decide upon that," the winner of the Women's World Rapid Chess in 2019 added.

The Asian Games was postponed last year due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in China, this year again the country has witnessed an increase in infections.

Humpy, who was part of the women's team that won the historic Chess Olympiad bronze at Mahabalipuram last year, added that the All India Chess Federation (AICF) should do more for women's chess.

She categorically said there wasn't enough encouragement for women to take up chess in the country.