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

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