Sport - Chess

Guntur celebrates Harika’s feat

VIJAYAWADA: The neighbouring Guntur city erupted with joy on Tuesday as its celebrity sportsperson Dronavalli Harika was conferred the prestigious Arjuna award by the Government of India for her achievements in chess. The 17-year-old girl is the third chess player from Andhra Pradesh to bag the coveted honour, the other two being Grandmasters Koneru Humpy from Vijayawada and Pendyala Harikrishna from Guntur.

“I was a bit jittery as there was no confirmation from the authorities. I rang up New Delhi to get the confirmation. I am happy as this honour will propel Harika to achieve many goals in chess,” said her father Dronavalli Ramesh, deputy executive engineer, Panchayat Raj department. Harika is away playing a World U-20 tournament in Turkey.

“Harika’s ultimate goal is to become World women’s champion. She is rated 2461 and she has the wherewithal to achieve her dream,” said Ramesh.

Women Grandmaster Harika began playing chess from 1998 and gradually she began hogging the limelight by winning World under-16 title for girls, Asian under-10, Asian u-12 and Commonwealth championship.

“She also won medals in the world under-10 and under-12 tournaments,” said former Andhra Pradesh Chess Association secretary B. Venkateswara Rao. — Sports Reporter

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