agencies
NEW DELHI, June 29: Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli is confused by the huge "void" in men's and women's chess in India and hopes the situation improves as there are several youngsters with potential in the country.
Harika, the three-time women's World Championship bronze medallist and winner of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix, has been the flag-bearer of women's chess in the country along with veteran Koneru Humpy, the Asian Games gold medallist.
Together, they have won the most trophies and accolades for the country and are currently also teammates in the Global Chess League (GCL) side upGrad Mumba Masters.
While the likes of young Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh have been creating waves among men and defeating several big names including five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, the women's scene in the country is far from encouraging.
"This (gap between men's and women's chess) even I don't know, I am confused because a lot of young boys are coming up but girls... there is a huge void. But there are a few youngsters who are promising and coming up now, which is good. But I feel there is much more potential for more (women) players to come up," Harika, the 2010 Asian Games bronze medallist, told PTI in a virtual interaction on Thursday.
"Frankly, I don't know the exact reason... I think things will get better," GM Humpy, the double Asian Games gold medallist, recently created a flutter, saying she is not sure about competing at this year's Asiad in Guangzhou, China due to Covid-related reservations, but Harika clarified that her senior counterpart had "no issue" taking part in the quadrennial continental showpiece.
Humpy had told PTI on the sidelines of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in April that, "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." However, Harika said Humpy will compete.
"I think there is a bit of confusion. She (Humpy) didn't say she is not competing. She said is thinking about it because of the situation (in China). I think she (has) decided to play, so there is no issue." Harika says there was a lot of comparison being drawn between the country's two Grandmasters -- herself and Humpy -- at one time, which she feels was unwarranted.
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