Chennai Grand Masters: Arjun Erigaisi off the blocks with win
CHENNAI: Ahead of the Chennai Grand Masters, Arjun Erigaisi emphasised the importance of gaining confidence in the lead-up to the upcoming World Championship cycle events.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
On Thursday, the world No. 5 took the first step towards making a turnaround in classical chess as he began his Chennai GM campaign with a victory over American youngster Awonder Liang. Arjun, playing with white pieces, was largely in control during his 49-move win and was the only Indian victor in the masters category on the day.
Poll
Do you think Arjun Erigaisi can maintain his momentum after a strong start?
Yes, definitely
Maybe, depends on the next matches
No, he might struggle
After displaying solidity in the first round, the 21-year-old expressed satisfaction. 'It does not matter if it is the opening day or not, it is always nice to win.
I believe that I made some inaccuracies. But apart from those, I played well overall,' said Arjun.
The India No. 2 stressed that making a positive start would not be of much help if he does not maintain the momentum. 'It is nice to start with a win but it does necessarily mean much. In the previous classical tournaments (this year), I started well but did not finish well,' Arjun added.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
26 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Men's 4x400 relay team coach Jason Dawson unhappy with interference from Indian coaches
Jason Dawson was hit with a flurry of emotions at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday. Vishal TK, his ward and local favourite, had just broken Muhammed Anas' six-year-old National Record of 45.21s in men's 400m at the 64th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships. Dawson, the head coach of the men's 4x400m relay national team which includes Vishal, was ecstatic after he clocked 45.12s and gave the 21-year-old a big hug. At the same time, the Jamaican was also a bit emotional and angry. 'What I will do is give my best as he (Vishal) continues to give his best if no one interferes. That's one of the biggest problems I have faced since coming to India,' said Dawson. Dawson, who is a hard taskmaster, has been a part of the Indian athletics ecosystem since replacing Russian-American coach Galina Bukharina in 2023. Under his guidance, the men's 4x400m relay team achieved astonishing results - a fifth-place finish at the Budapest World Championships as well as the gold medal at the Asian Games. 'The interference of other Indian coaches - telling the athletes what to do, what not to do and why they should not do. There is a lot of ignorance because these athletes are used to their former coaches and have to give respect to their elders. They follow their advice. Sometimes, the programme goes down and it just seems like what is really happening in Thiruvananthapuram (the relay team trains together at the National Centre of Excellence in Thiruvananthapuram) is a question I have to ask,' he continued. Dawson (R) with Vishal TK after he broke the men's 400m National Record. | Photo Credit: Nihit Sachdeva Dawson also gave credit to Vishal and his former coach R. Seenivasan for not falling into that category of athletes and coaches. 'He's very tough-headed. He doesn't let other people try to tell him what to do. When he was coming to train under me, I heard his former coach (R. Seenivasan), who is also from Tamil Nadu, say to him, 'Listen to the coach and follow what the coach asks you to do'. So, I also want to give thanks to that coach for not interfering in my program', he said. Dawson also pointed out that he is training the athletes on his own. 'Presently, I don't have an assistant coach and I choose not to have an assistant coach because I want people who are working with me and not against me,' he said. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has rejigged the 4x400m men's relay team after its failure to go past the heats at the Paris Olympics. The Olympic squad featured Anas, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, Rajesh Ramesh, Mijo Chacko Kurian and Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan. The team which competed at this year's Asian Championships also had Santhosh but the rest - Vishal, Jay Kumar, Manu TS, Dharamveer Chaudhary, Rince Joseph, Tushar Kanti, and Mohit Kumar - were all new. 'My mission has always been to bring the team as high as possible, as world beaters, nothing less. The Americans, the British, you name the team, must understand that an Indian 400m runner is not going out there to take up a lane. They are going out there to compete well. That is something I always want but most people always say it's too much hard work,' he said. 'That is why I asked AFI to provide me with young and new athletes this season.' Published on Aug 21, 2025
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
US Open draw: Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in same half, wildcard Venus Williams faces Karolina Muchova
Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are on the same side of the US Open draw (Photo by) Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have been placed on a collision course at the US Open after the draw for the men's and women's singles tournaments was announced on Thursday. Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion, could face the Serbian veteran in the semi-finals if the tournament follows seedings. The Spanish star begins his campaign on Sunday against big-serving American Reilly Opelka. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! A deeper run could see Alcaraz, currently ranked world number two, face top seed Jannik Sinner in the final. Depending on results in New York, the Spaniard also has the chance to claim the world number one ranking from the Italian. Djokovic, who is chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam crown, opens against American Learner Tien. The 38-year-old has not played since his Wimbledon semi-final run last month, leaving questions over his form heading into the final Slam of the year. Djokovic holds a 5-3 head-to-head lead over Alcaraz and beat him in four sets in the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier this season. Sinner, the defending champion and top seed, begins his title defence against Czech player Vit Kopriva. The 24-year-old retired during the Cincinnati Open final against Alcaraz earlier this week but remains among the favourites. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A Tree Blocked This Garage for Years - See What's Inside! Tips and Tricks Undo A potential quarter-final against Britain's Jack Draper could await him. In the women's draw, world number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will start against Switzerland's Rebeka Masarova, ranked 109. On the opposite side of the draw, second seed Iga Swiatek begins her bid for a seventh Grand Slam singles title against Colombia's Emiliana Arango. Swiatek, a former US Open and Wimbledon champion, could face 2023 champion Coco Gauff in the semi-finals. Gauff opens her campaign against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic. Poll Who do you think will win the US Open men's singles title this year? Carlos Alcaraz Novak Djokovic Jannik Sinner Another player Meanwhile, veteran Venus Williams was handed a difficult first-round tie as she prepares for what may be her final US Open appearance. The 45-year-old American, playing on a wild card, faces Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova, 28 years after she first reached the US Open final as a 17-year-old in 1997. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Shikara boy, 17, rows to first gold of Khelo India for J&K
Mohsin Ali. (ANI) SRINAGAR: The unhurried rhythm of a shikara gliding through the Dal is one of Kashmir's oldest inheritances. On Thursday, a 17-year-old Kashmiri boy swapped the oars of his shikara for a kayak paddle and whipped up a frenzy generations of his family hadn't known – shouts of "Mohsin! Shabhash, Mohsin!" from the banks of the lake as he neared the finish line of a 1000m kayaking competition to give J&K the first gold of the ongoing Khelo India Water Sports Festival. "I am so happy. I defeated kayakers who have competed in China and Europe. This is a big thing for me," said Mohsin, moments after stepping out of his kayak into the waiting arms of his coach Bilquis Mir, a former international and an Olympic judge. Mohsin, a Class 12 student at Srinagar's SP Higher Secondary School, takes tourists on shikara rides after school almost every day to earn some money that goes into supplementing his diet. It helps that he lives in Kand Mohalla, next to the lake. Mohsin credits his carpenter father Fida Hussain with encouraging him to excel in sport. "My father tells me that kayaking is my ticket out of Dal to see the world," he told TOI. Winning gold in a national competition "in front of my people" has stoked Mohsin's ambition to aim for bigger glory, which his coach believes isn't out of reach. "Mohsin was only seven when he came to me to learn kayaking. He has come a long way since, striving to get better each day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 1 Reason to Read The 5 Books American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends For Turning Your Life... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo I think this is just the beginning," said Mir. While the adulation still rings in his ears, Mohsin worries about finding the resources to reach the next level. "Only I know how difficult it has been just to be able to afford the diet a kayaker needs to compete in such events," he said. Khelo India Water Sports Festival, which runs until Aug 23, is the second Khelo India event hosted by J&K after the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg. The water sports edition features six events –rowing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, shikara race and dragon boat race. Launched in 2017-18, Khelo India is a mission to promote sports at the grassroots and help scouts spot talent early.
