Chess grandmaster Koneru Humpy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.© X/@humpy_koneru
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called grandmaster Koneru Humpy a “sports icon” after meeting him following his recent triumph at the FIDE Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship in New York. Accompanied by her family, Humpy met the Prime Minister and described it as a “unique privilege”. Modi tweeted after the meeting: “Glad to have met Koneru Humpy and her family. She is a sporting icon and an inspiration to aspiring players. Her keen intelligence and steely determination are clearly visible. She not only brought immense pride to India but also redefined what excellence is. Humpy capped a wonderful year for Indian chess by defeating Indonesian Irene Sukandar to become champion of the prestigious tournament. New York on Sunday.
“It was an incredible honor and a unique privilege to meet our esteemed Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi ji, alongside my family. The experience was truly unforgettable, filled with inspiration and encouragement. Thank you, sir, for this. remarkable moment!” Humpy wrote about “X”.
Glad to have met Koneru Humpy and his family. She is a sporting icon and a source of inspiration for aspiring players. His keen intelligence and unwavering determination are clearly visible. She not only brought immense pride to India but also redefined what excellence is. https://t.co/4H4sFrmq5E
-Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 3, 2025
Humpy won the event in 2019 in Georgia and the Indian No. 1 is only the second player after China’s Ju Wenjun to win the title more than once.
Humpy’s feat marked a sensational year for the chess fraternity after D Gukesh defeated China’s Ding Liren to become champion at the classical format world championship recently in Singapore.
In September, India also won its first ever gold medals in the open and women’s categories at the Budapest Chess Olympiad.
The Indian, who started the tournament in New York with a first-round defeat, was the only winner in the 11th and final round, helping her take the lead with 8.5 points, half a point d ahead of six others, including his compatriot D Harika.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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