I highlighted the important parts in blue and red. Special thanks to Jagdish Dube for sending me the article.
Koneru Humpy pulls out of Asian Indoor Games
Principal Correspondent
Online edition of India’s National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 23, 2009
HYDERABAD: Chess player Koneru Humpy has decided to pull out of the Asian Indoor Games scheduled to be held in Vietnam from October 30 to November 6 this year, according to her father-cum-coach Koneru Ashok.
“For any chess player, there has to be tranquillity before a big event for the right preparation. But, I was put under pressure and hence I was not in a position to take part,” said Humpy.
“I have faced similar problems earlier and if the AICF continues to function in a similar way, then I will have to think of my options. Right now I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that the situation improves,” she said.
She also pointed out that even after the Indian Olympic Association granted permission to let her personal trainer (father Ashok) accompany her for the Games (on condition of submission of a letter from the AICF), the latter did not respond positively.
“The AICF also did not permit me to play in two international tournaments abroad though they didn’t clash with the official events like the World championship and the Asian Games etc.,” Humpy said.
“Even in the case of the Gibtelecom event in January this year, featuring many world champions and Grandmasters, I was denied permission to play. In August this year I had made a request for permission to participate in two tournaments in Greece for which I got no response,” added Humpy.
Our Chennai Sports Reporter reports
AICF clarifies
Responding to Humpy’s pullout and her subsequent allegations against the AICF, D.V. Sundar, Secretary, AICF, clarified that the AICF had not had any objections to Humpy’s father accompanying her for the Asian meet.
“We sent a letter to the India Olympic Association granting her father permission to travel, provided he met his own expenses. The AICF never had a problem granting permission,” he said.
Sundar also clarified that the AICF’s inability to release Humpy for the Gibraltar Open in January 2010, was because the tournament’s dates clashed with the Grandmaster Open to be held in Chennai.
“We gave her our reasons and explained why we were unable to consider her request. But she is welcome to come forward and put forth her case on why she necessarily has to participate in the Gibraltar Open.
“We have no objections to her travelling to tournaments as long as the dates don’t clash with tournaments here,” he added.
On her allegation that she hadn’t received her bronze medal World Championship certificate, Sundar said that the AICF had written to FIDE to check if the medal had been awarded, and was awaiting a response.
Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com
‘Sundar said that the AICF had written to FIDE’
That’s about the same as throwing the letter into the waste basket. FIDE doesn’t read.
This issue is bullshit and a waste of time. We should concentrate more on chess corruption in China.
I don’t understand chess federations who terrorize their players by telling them what they can play and what they cannot. Is this the way it is supposed to be? I can understand only in case chess player is stupid and cannot make the right choice by himself.
Chessbase has finalized the issue. Mr. Sundar and AICF win the game.
Gettem Humpy! hehe.Susan time for the old bums to go!!
I thought India was a free country. Apparently not.
Do these chess federations have a legal contract with players? e.g., we pay you $1 million per year retainer, and in return, you must play in our tournaments?
Because, otherwise, it seems plain illegal to “not give permission.”
Sunder sounds like a dictator of a banana republic.
Go Humpy! Just emmigrate out. Don’t give in to these idiots.
Sundar may have right on his side based on technicalities – it’s all an ego issue,but if he really cared,he has to be nicer to Humpy and go the extra mile to extend support and encouragement. It’s the same everywhere. Indian officialdom is boorish & self important. As a result the country eventually goes down the drain. The top sports persons should always be more important than petty officialdom.
Shame on you Mr Sundar.
‘Sunder sounds like a dictator of a banana republic.’
May sound like but is certainly not.
‘Shame on you Mr Sundar.’
Shame on you blogger-boy, who has done NOTHING for chess in your life.
Mr. Sundar proved that Humpy is an occasional liar.
Anand would have supported Humpy, if Mympy was in the right. Humpy was in the wrong this time around. Will she get a second chance and avoid going to court? We shall soon see.
I see the biggest problem in that Konery mislead the general public with false statements. Therefore, AICF should take away all her titles and leave the rating only.
Humpy thought she was the goddess of chess. What a mistake that was! Now she is back in place, humiliated and to be banished soon.
‘The top sports persons should always be more important than petty officialdom.’
Why? Most top persons get on top because of politicians who support their petty needs for fame.
there is too much corruption in India
That sounds like the old Communist Russia.
What’s that business of players having to get permission to travel?
May be there is cost for government support of Chess in India.
Humpy came to Portugal;)
Sundar had banned GM Gopal even rejecting the words of support from Viswanathan Anand. If Indian has got a chess game as popular as today and the AICF has got a label due to it, then it simply due to none other than Anand. Forgetting this with his EGO dominating the wisdom, he prevented an upcoming player like Gopal a shot at World championship. His next move will be denying permission for Anand for Sophia match with Topalov. His reasoning will be the same some local tournament in Tamilnadu, India.