Humpy back in Indian women's team for Chess Olympiad

Indian chess grandmaster Koneru Humpy has been included in the women's team for the upcoming Chess Olympiad in Georgia.

File picture of Koneru Humpy.

In a welcome move, Koneru Humpy has been made part of the Indian women's team for the Chess Olympiad to be held in Batumi, Georgia, in September- October this year.

The decision was taken by the All India Chess Federation’s Executive Council meeting here on Saturday. According to AICF Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan, “For Humpy, we relaxed the rule of a player requiring to play at least nine rated games spread over six months since she was nursing her new-born baby. We welcome her into the Indian team that now looks stronger than before.

“With Viswanathan Anand also back in the Olympiad team, India will be fielding its strongest-ever teams and that also makes us serious medal contenders in both sections.”

In another significant move, it was also decided to hold weekly online-coaching classes by Indian GMs. The two-hour class will be free for all AICF registered players.

READ: Anand's presence lights up Chess Olympiad camp

The house also ratified the decision to hold the World junior championship in New Delhi and the World Youth Championship in Nagpur next year. During tournaments, players have been barred from wearing wrist-watches in the playing hall. Also, in all National championships, the players can agree to draw only after 30 moves.

Chauhan said, “The All Bihar Chess Association stands disaffiliated owing to gross violation of Government guidelines and complaints of financial irregularities. The ABCA did not present audited accounts for five National championships. As a result, an ad-hoc committee will be formed within a week so that Bihar players are not put to any inconvenience.”

An India-China match has been scheduled in August and the the modalities and venue for the same will be decided in due course.

Before the meeting, the state secretaries were part of a workshop. GM R. B. Ramesh spoke about the importance of cordial player-administrator relationship, while motivational speaker Parth Narang and the AICF treasurer Kishor Bandekar also addressed the gathering. It was also decided to introduce National veterans championship in above-55 and above-60 categories.