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India Gazette
a day ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
"India is getting many new and good players...": Norway Chess women's champion Anna Muzychuk
Stavanger [Norway], June 7 (ANI): Ukrainian Grandmaster Anna Muzychuk, who secured the women's title at Norway Chess, spoke on her victory and opened on playing Indian chess legend Koneru Humpy as a child. Anna secured her maiden Norway Chess title, drawing in both classical and armageddon against Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu, but it was still enough for her to seal the win with a total of 16.5 points, as per At the second spot was Lei Tingjie with 16 points while Humpy finished third with 15 points. With 11 points, Vaishali finished in fifth position. Speaking to ANI, Muzychuk said that, 'I am very happy. This tournament and this win mean a lot, and I think it is a great success.' On India's progress as a chess nation, Muzychuk said that while India is getting plenty of great players from the new generation, the older generation is still around and doing well. 'India is getting many new and good players from the new generation, but also from the older, like, Koneru Humpy. I played my first game with Koneru when I was seven years old and she was 10. It was 28 years ago... India is doing great in women's and men's competitions, and I think we will have many more players coming. It will always be challenging to play against them,' she concluded. Humpy, who finished third, did not beat grandmaster Ju Wenjun in the classical, but won the armageddon game, as per However, it was not enough for her to get the title. (ANI)
Indian Express
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Norway Chess: Koneru Humpy tops women's standings despite defeat; Arjun Erigaisi 4th, Gukesh last in open standings
India's Koneru Humpy took the sole lead in the Norway Chess women's event at the halfway stage after prevailing over China's Lei Tingjie in the Armageddon contest after their fifth-round classical clash ended in a draw after 31 moves with Humpy playing with white pieces. Trailing the Indian veteran, who has 8.5 points, in the standings is Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk, who has eight points. Meanwhile, the fifth round also saw a win for the other Indian player in the women's section, Vaishali Rameshbabu, who took down Spain's Sarasadat Khademalsharieh in just 35 moves. The Vaishali vs Sara game was one of the rare clashes on Saturday that gave a decisive result, and did not need Armageddon games to decide the winner. The men's event saw all three games end in draws, which means Armageddon was needed to separate the players. As per the rules of the tournament, a win in the classical section earns three points while a win in Armageddon earns a player 1.5 points. A defeat in Armageddon gets one point. In the Armageddon, the player with white pieces needs to win the game and has 10 minutes on their clock while the player having black pieces gets just seven minutes, but they just need to draw. Players get an increment of 1 second per move, starting from move 41 in the Armageddon. Magnus Carlsen emerged as the runaway leader in the open section, with two wins and three draws so far. While he had lost his previous two Armageddon games, he finally managed to win one at last, defeating Fabiano Caruana. Meanwhile, reigning world champion Gukesh lost to China's Wei Yi to halt a run of two wins (one in classical and another in Armageddon). Arjun Erigaisi beat an unhappy-looking Hikaru Nakamura in their Armageddon clash. After five rounds, Carlsen has 9.5 points, while Caruana is second with eight points. Among Indians, Arjun is the highest-placed (4th) with six points, while Gukesh is last with 5.5 points.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Motherhood is a strength': How 'mere paas maa hai' legacy lives on in Indian sports
Koneru Humpy with her daughter, Ritu Phogat with her son NEW DELHI: In the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer movie "Deewar," there's a famous dialogue from the lead protagonist Vijay, who flaunts his wealth and asks his younger brother Ravi (Shashi Kapoor), a principled police officer: " Aaj mere paas building hai, property hai, bank balance hai, bangla hai, gaadi hai... tumhare paas kya hai? (Today I have buildings, property, a bank balance, a bungalow, a car... Operation Sindoor Armed forces maintaining strong vigil after Pak ceasefire breach: MEA Pakistan violates ceasefire: Loud explosions, sirens haunt J&K- what we know so far Behind the scenes of ceasefire: Calls from Pakistan, Washington what do you have?)" Ravi calmly replies, ' Mere paas maa hai. (I have my mother.)" Today is their day: Mother's Day. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! As India sees a new generation of athletes rise -- like Gukesh Dommaraju, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi in chess, or Anahat Singh and Maaya Rajeshwaran in racquet sports -- mothers remain the constant support. Whether it's travelling with them or handling daily ifs and buts, it's often the mothers who stand silently behind their children's success, juggling different roles of caretaker, motivator, and manager. While these youngsters sweat it out on court or board, a mother's watchful eyes on the sidelines feel the heat. But have you ever paused to think: what's it like on that side of the spectrum? "I always feel motherhood is a strength," says Koneru Humpy during an exclusive chat with . "It's quite a challenging job: balancing my career and motherhood. I miss my daughter Ahana a lot, especially during long tournaments that last 15–20 days. Thankfully, she's very close to her grandparents and enjoys staying with them, so I'm fortunate she gets the love and attention she needs," she says. Humpy became a mother in 2017. After taking a break, she returned to competitive chess in 2018. "When I came back to chess, practice and preparation were there, but I had become a much tougher person. Raising a child meant sleepless nights. I learned I'm even capable of doing the work without having proper food," she recalls. 'Earlier, even small issues would affect my performance. But motherhood changed that. It made me mentally stronger.' She smiles, remembering her comeback: 'I still recall winning the 2019 World Rapid Championship, even though I hadn't played for nearly a year and a half.' Humpy, who is standing for the many mothers who carry ambition in one hand and love in the other, says. "It cannot make you sidestep your profession." Meanwhile, India's Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Ritu Phogat echoes Koneru's sentiments when it comes to balancing motherhood with a demanding athletic career, where support becomes paramount. "There are definitely challenges. They say when a woman becomes a mother, it's like she is reborn, and it's true. Getting your body back into athletic form is the toughest part. Every mother faces such challenges. I also faced them: nursing the baby, not getting enough sleep at night ... but when you have a supportive family and husband, it helps a lot," says MMA fighter Ritu Phogat Ritu, 31, gave birth to a baby boy in April 2024. Now eyeing a comeback ahead of MMA's debut at the 2026 Asian Games, Ritu accepts that motherhood is not all about toil as she penned on her son's first birthday: "It's been 365 days of love, laughter, and endless joy. Happy 1st birthday, my sweet prince! A year ago, you came into our lives and filled it with endless sunshine." READ ALSO: Indian farm girl who picked up gun at 13, now recovering Olympic heartbreak: The Maheshwari Chauhan story
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Hailed by Kapil Dev and world chess champion Koneru Humpy, SOGF Grandmasters Series sets new benchmarks in Mind Sports
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Skillhub Online Games Federation (SOGF) Grandmasters Series Championship concluded in Gurugram late Wednesday evening at an electrifying closing ceremony graced by Legendary Indian Cricketer Kapil Dev and World Rapid Chess Champion Koneru Humpy , who praised the growing prominence of mind sports in India, as per a release from the registrations from over 1,50,000 participants nationwide, the two-day event brought together elite talent in chess, blind chess, and rummy, marking a significant milestone in the country's skill-based gaming from April 29 to 30 at Hyatt Regency, Gurugram, the tournament culminated in fierce yet friendly competition, with Mitrabha Guha, Shubhi Gupta, Soundarya Kumar Pradhan, Satya and Rakesh Kumar emerging as winners in their respective categories. Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam and Kapil Dev gave away the are the names of the top three winners in each category: In the Indian Chess Masters (ICM) competition, the winners in the men's category were Mitrabha Guha (Winner), Namitbir Singh Walia (1st Runner-Up), and Gopal Krishna Maheshwari (2nd Runner-Up). In the Indian Chess Masters (ICM), in the women's category, the winners were Shubhi Gupta (Winner), Sachi Jain (1st Runner Up), and Diya Chowdhury (2nd Runner Up).For the Indian Chess Masters for Blind (ICMB), winners from the East Zone were Soundarya Kumar Pradhan (Winner), Shougata Chowdhury (1st Runner Up), Patra Subhendu Kumar (2nd Runner Up) and winners from the North Zone were Satya (Winner), Soumendra (1st Runner-Up), and Mayenk(2nd Runner-Up).For the Indian Rummy Grandmaster - North & East Zone, the winners were Rakesh Kumar (Winner), Sachin (1st Runner Up) and Ravi Kumar (2nd Runner Up).Celebrating the event's success, India's legendary cricketer Kapil Dev emphasised the importance of traditional Indian games in boosting mental agility, stating, "Games like chess and rummy aren't just entertainment--they're cognitive exercises that enhance memory, reduce stress, and build resilience."Koneru Humpy, ranked No. 5 globally, echoed optimism about India's trajectory in global chess. "We are witnessing a golden era," she said. "With world champion Gukesh and others in the top 10, India's future in chess is brighter than ever."The event was honoured by the presence of several esteemed dignitaries, including Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam, Wrestling guru Satpal Singh, Hockey Legend Ashok Dhyanchand, and Geoffrey Borg (CEO, International Mind Sports Association), reflecting the event's widespread acclaim and national Kumar Jha, Founder of SOGF, highlighted the broader vision: "This championship is a testament to India's rising interest in mind sports. Driven by Gen Z and fueled by digital transformation, esports in India has seen a 733% rise in players and a 108% growth in teams from 2020 to 2023. At SOGF, we aim to formalise and promote these games as serious, skill-based disciplines."The SOGF Grandmasters Series blends physical and digital ("phygital") formats to ensure accessibility, equity, and national recognition. With India's sports market projected to reach $130 billion by 2030, SOGF's initiatives are helping shape a future where cognitive excellence is celebrated alongside physical prowess.
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Business Standard
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
SOG Grandmasters championship culminates with stellar wins in Gurugram
The SOG Grandmasters Series Championship wrapped up on a high note in Gurugram on Wednesday evening, with an electrifying closing ceremony attended by cricket legend Mr. Kapil Dev and world rapid chess champion Ms. Koneru Humpy. Both dignitaries commended the increasing popularity of mind sports in India, highlighting their growing significance in the country's evolving sporting landscape. Drawing participation from over 1,50,000 registered players across India, the two-day championship was a celebration of skill-based gaming, featuring top-tier competitions in chess, blind chess, and rummy. Held from April 29 to 30 at the Hyatt Regency, Gurugram, the event showcased intense yet sportsmanlike contests across categories, culminating in a remarkable showcase of India's emerging talent. Among the many standouts, Mitrabha Guha, Shubhi Gupta, Soundarya Kumar Pradhan, Satya, and Rakesh Kumar took top honours in their respective divisions. The awards were presented by Haryana Sports Minister Mr. Gaurav Gautam and Mr. Kapil Dev, adding further prestige to the occasion. Also Read 1st Runner-Up: Namitbir Singh Walia 2nd Runner-Up: Gopal Krishna Maheshwari Indian Chess Masters (ICM) – Women's Category: Winner: Shubhi Gupta 1st Runner-Up: Sachi Jain 2nd Runner-Up: Diya Chowdhury Indian Chess Masters for Blind (ICMB): East Zone: Winner: Soundarya Kumar Pradhan 1st Runner-Up: Shougata Chowdhury 2nd Runner-Up: Patra Subhendu Kumar North Zone: Winner: Satya 1st Runner-Up: Soumendra 2nd Runner-Up: Mayenk Indian Rummy Grandmaster – North & East Zone: Winner: Rakesh Kumar 1st Runner-Up: Sachin 2nd Runner-Up: Ravi Kumar At the closing ceremony, Kapil Dev highlighted the mental benefits of traditional Indian games, stating, 'Games like chess and rummy aren't just forms of entertainment—they are mental workouts that improve memory, lower stress, and enhance mental strength.' Echoing his sentiments, Koneru Humpy, currently ranked World No. 5, spoke enthusiastically about India's ascent in global chess. 'We are living through a golden phase in Indian chess,' she noted. 'With talents like world champion Gukesh and others among the world's top players, our country's future in the sport looks incredibly promising.' The event also welcomed numerous distinguished guests, including Wrestling icon Satpal Singh, Hockey great Ashok Dhyanchand, and Geoffrey Borg, CEO of the International Mind Sports Association, all of whom lent their support and admiration to the championship's success. Mr. Nandan Kumar Jha, Founder of the SOG Foundation (SOGF), emphasized the broader vision of the initiative: 'This tournament reflects India's fast-growing enthusiasm for mind sports. With significant contributions from Gen Z and rapid advancements in digital platforms, esports has seen a remarkable 733% rise in players and a 108% increase in team formation between 2020 and 2023. At SOGF, we're committed to elevating these skill-based games into recognized, competitive disciplines.' The SOG Grandmasters Series has successfully blended both physical and digital elements—what the organizers call a 'phygital' approach—making the event more accessible, inclusive, and widely recognized. With India's sports industry projected to hit $130 billion by 2030, initiatives like SOGF are playing a key role in shaping a future where intellectual excellence is celebrated alongside physical
