Anand expects Humpy to do well

Anand expects Humpy to do well
N Jagannath Das
Express News Service
Last Updated : 03 Jul 2011 12:45:59 PM IST

HYDERABAD:“(Koneru) Humpy has got incredible talent. She has got the experience this time to play well in the (women’s) World Championship title match against Hou Yifan,’’ said world champ Viswanathan Anand. Speaking at NIIT’s launch of ‘New age GNIIT’, India’s first cloud campus here on Saturday, Anand had this to say on Humpy’s chances against Hou: “Humpy has got the experience this time, especially the way she became the challenger for world title. It was impressive because it looked hopeless intially. But she grabbed every chance to qualify. If she trains well and comes to the championship in the right frame of mind, her chances are reasonably good.’’

On India’s performances at the international level

It is not all that bad. Harikrishna, Humpy and Harika from Andhra Pradesh,are doing quite well. But sometimes you have to wait and talent will emerge at the top. Except for Russia, there aren’t many countries that dominate in a big way. But if you see out of top 50, India is already starting doing much better. I’m confident that if we get the numbers right, eventually a lot of talent will emerge even at the highest level.

On Sasikiran & Hari moving to European countries

They are already doing that to a large extent. Many of them have moved to Europe to train and play. It is slightly shifted in India’s favour as there is a strong pool of players from where the players can work easily and chess information is easier to come by. They are taking the right steps and sooner or later success will follow soon

On sponsorship for the game

It can always get better. We will never come to a moment that we can say that it is too much. So a lot of people are getting support to play abroad. Many of them have a job that is connected to the game. It is improving but will improve with more fan base. It is a big sport in India. That’s why I keep focusing chess in school.

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