A pleasant surprise for the Humpy family

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 2. It was a pleasant surprise for Mr. Koneru Ashok, father-cum-coach of newly-crowned World junior chess champion, Koneru Humpy, when the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, announced a special cash award of Rs. 5 lakhs for playing a key role in grooming his daughter to a potential champion.

``It is a rare feat, which most of the parents should try to emulate. We congratulate Ashok and would be writing to the Union Government to honour him in a befitting manner,'' Mr. Naidu told newsmen at his residence.

Earlier he accorded a warm welcome to Humpy and her parents - Koneru Lata and Ashok. In a special gesture, the Chief Minister also announced that Humpy would be given an additional Rs. 10 lakhs for winning the World title. This is apart from the already announced Rs. 25 lakhs and the 500 square yards house site to the chess prodigy, who became only the second Indian to win the World junior title.

In a free and frank discussion with Mr. Ashok, the Chief Minister virtually made the former to think twice about his earlier decision to opt for the house site in Vijayawada. ``I leave it to you whether you want it in Hyderabad or Vijayawada. But, what I feel since the girl will be travelling a lot, the State capital can be a better place to save time and money and also get adequate exposure,'' he said in a very touching tone. Later Ashok said that he would be visiting some of the sites likely to be suggested by the authorities but felt that he would be happy if he were to be given near the same place, where all-England badminton champion Pullela Gopi Chand or Pentyala Harikrishna (on Road No. 10, Banjara Hills) were allotted.

Mr. Naidu took the opportunity to assert that the State Government would take every step to see that Hyderabad emerges as the chess capital in the country.

He also hoped that Humpy's outstanding achievements should spur other talented youngsters. ``Both Pentyala Harikrishna (India's youngest Grandmaster) and Humpy demonstrated what a talented individual can achieve at the highest level if that is complemented with hard work under normal conditions,'' he remarked.

The Chief Minister also delighted Humpy's family by announcing that the State Government would bear complete expenditure if she buys the latest chess book (computer). ``She need not bother about the cost,'' he asserted.

Earlier speaking to newsmen on her arrival at the Hyderabad airport, Koneru Humpy says that her next target is the World championship in seniors category. ``I dedicate this victory to Bank of Baroda (sponsors). Obviously, I can't dedicate all the titles which I won to my father,'' quipped Humpy.

Looking back at the World junior championship, the 14- year-old Humpy revealed that she was really tense after losing the 11th round game. ``Till the end it was not clear, who would win the title. Originally, I was just hoping to finish among the top three. I had to really win the last two rounds. And I am happy that I did exactly that to emerge champion by virtue of better progressive score,'' the Vijayawada girl said.

The ninth standard student of Chalapathi Residential School (Lam, Guntur) said as of now there were no plans to hire a foreign coach or think of having another one. ``My father will take care of coaching,'' she informed.

Mr. Tammineni Sitaram, Minister for Sports, who was there along with Mr. L.V. Subrahmanyam, vice-chairman and managing director of SAAP, Mr. Bala Prasad, special officer of National Games (Hyderabad), to receive the champion youngster, said that it was a great honour for the State and the country that two brilliant youngsters (Harikrishna and Humpy) were doing remarkably well. ``We are particularly happy that sportspersons from Andhra are doing the nation proud of late,'' he remarked.

The Sports Minister also announced that the State Government would host a civic reception to both Harikrishna and Humpy on September 10 in the City.

- Our Sports Reporter

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