Date:27/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/27/stories/2004092705320500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Arjuna awardees felicitated, Mithali Raj ignored?

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT.26. The beaming faces of Arjuna awardees Koneru Humpy (chess) and M. Srinivasa Rao (physically challenged - badminton) said it all when the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, felicitated them in his chambers on Sunday and presented them with shawls and a cash award of Rs.1 lakh each.

For Humpy, it was one of her crowning glories in a career spanning six years for supremacy on 64-squares while the Karimnagar native, Srinivasa Rao, fought with destiny to write a different script to achieve what many normal human beings can only dream off.

Mithali Raj, former world record-holder for the highest individual score of 214 in women's Test cricket who was also conferred the Arjuna Award, could not attend the function as she was away in the Railways camp in Delhi. Her family members were also not present on the occasion. According to Mithali's mother, Leela Raj, none of them were informed by the authorities about the function.

`Good for chess'

Humpy says the award came to her at a time when she had completely forgotten about it after being ignored when she became the youngest Woman's Grandmaster in 2002.

"I merely completed the formality of sending the application last year and focussed more on the game. So, I was neither surprised nor elated," she said. But, at the same time, the former World Junior champion stressed that it was one of the biggest moments in her career. This is good for Indian chess itself.

Her next target is to join other three teammates in Calicut for preparations ahead of the Spanish Olympiad next month.