Two-time Asian Games gold medallist Woman Grandmaster Koneru Humpy could give the continental multi-discipline event later this year a miss since the Games are being held in China, the country where the deadly COVID-19 virus reportedly originated and spread across the world in 2020. (More Sports News)
The virus has largely been contained in most parts of the world.
The latest World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows that between January 3, 2020 and April 5 this year, China recorded 99,238,586 COVID-19 cases with 120,896 fatalities.
The world's most populous country has not reported any new COVID-19 case in the last 24 hours, according to WHO.
China was originally scheduled to host the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022 but postponed the quadrennial showpiece event by a year because of the pandemic.
Asked about her expectations at the Asian Games, where chess is set to return after 13 years -- the last time the sport was part of the curriculum was in 2010 Guangzhou --, 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 (not) to go to China,”Humpy told PTI on the sidelines of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix, which concluded in New Delhi on Wednesday.
"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.
According to the Union Health Ministry, India still has 25,587 active COVID-19 cases across the country.
Humpy, now 36, 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 an automatic choice to make the India team for the Hangzhou Games scheduled to commence on September 23 this year.
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.
"There isn't enough encouragement for the girls (in India) -- encouragement in the sense that we don't have any special women's events or any kind of training. We are not able to motivate them.
"I think, that's one of the reasons (for women not taking up the sport). What I believe is, our success is completely an individual effort," she added.
She also pointed out that demographic issues were a big impediment in the growth of women's chess.
"For boys, it's easy to form groups and work together, but for girls that is tough as we are placed at different locations. So, unless someone like the federation (AICF) takes that initiative to gather some girls and train them (it would be difficult for girls).
"I think that's what the Chinese do; gather the talented players and training them. That’s how their supply line never dries up," opined Humpy.
Humpy also called on the AICF to organise more tournaments and send players abroad to train so that they can hone their skills.
"The federation can host tournaments, or they can send players abroad. They should sort out their (players') financial issues and organise some training camps so that they can improve their skills," added Humpy, who now only plays for the love of the game rather than to win laurels.
"Nowadays, I don't target anything. I simply want to enjoy my game. I just love to play rather than aim for laurels. That's more important for me," said Humpy, adding that a sport like chess should also be a part of the Olympic curriculum."
