The Inner Drive to Succeed Propelled Koneru Humpy to Regain World Rapid Title
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Synopsis
Koneru Humpy reflects on her journey back to chess, describing her passion and determination that led her to reclaim the Women's World Rapid Championship in New York. After overcoming challenges, she embraces her 'third innings' with gratitude for her family's support and recognition from both the chess federation and Prime Minister Modi.
Key Takeaways
- Koneru Humpy's return to chess is driven by passion and ambition.
- She won her second World Rapid title in 2024 after a brief hiatus.
- Support from family and recognition from the chess federation were crucial.
- Meeting with Prime Minister Modi inspired her to achieve more.
- Humpy plans to compete in upcoming tournaments, including Grand Prix series.
New Delhi, Jan 17 (NationPress) A driving passion and the ambition to excel on the chess circuit motivated Koneru Humpy to make a comeback for what she refers to as her "third innings" and successfully reclaim the Women's World Rapid Championship in New York approximately two weeks ago.
Humpy secured her second World Rapid title in the last week of 2024, triumphing once more after her initial victory in 2019 by outperforming Ju Wenjun from China. She had previously earned a silver medal in the 2023 tournament.
"You could say that this is my third innings in chess since I took a break after my daughter was born and again after COVID, during which I was not actively participating in online chess for over a year. In the past year, I faced considerable challenges as a player," she shared with IANS.
"There were moments when I contemplated quitting professional chess. However, deep down, a fire remained ignited, pushing me to achieve more. Perhaps that inner drive led me to once again claim this World title," Humpy expressed, extending her gratitude to her family for their unwavering support, which was instrumental in her victory.
She noted that while she claimed the title in 2019, it went unacknowledged. In contrast, this time her achievement was formally recognized by the federation, which invited her and Gukesh to Delhi for a celebration and presented her with a cash prize.
"Prime Minister Modi ji has been incredibly supportive and encouraging. I had the opportunity to meet him with my family, and our conversation left me feeling highly motivated. I aspire to bring more accolades for my country," Humpy remarked.
Reflecting on her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 37-year-old Humpy mentioned that the PM acknowledged her second World Rapid title, which is no easy feat.
"He recounted how he promoted chess in Gujarat during his tenure as chief minister, even printing chess boards on school bags to foster interest in the game," she noted. They also discussed the era of Garry Kasparov and her upcoming chess tournaments.
"It is encouraging to observe his enthusiasm for supporting athletes in our nation," Humpy concluded, adding that she plans to participate in the Grand Prix series and Norway Chess this year.
