Sundar: Imagination and half truths
23.10.2009
– "I saw GM Koneru Humpy’s letter on your website," wrote D.V. Sunder, Honorary Secretary of the All India Chess Federation. "You normally seek the reaction of the other side, as you have earlier agreed that there is always the other side of any episode." Indeed there usually is. We bring you in full what we received from the AICF: a letter of clarification.
 |
 |
Nigel Davies:
A busy person’s opening system
Players with interests and commitments away from the chess board often find it difficult to compete against those with more study time. Their opponents come to the board armed with the latest theory and can bash out moves well into the middle game. On this DVD Nigel Davies addresses this issue by demonstrating a simple and easy to learn opening system designed for the busy person.
More information...
|
|
At the outset let me tell you that many things are said out of imagination
and half truths. As I see it, there are two things which are highlighted 1.
Her father accompanying her to Asian Indoor Games and 2. Her not being allowed
to Gibralter open. And she has accused me on both these things, let me clarify
on the above two first.
-
It is a lie to say that we have not recommended her father to accompanying
her to Asian Indoor Games. Her father knows very well that I have recommended
him on the request of Humpy to accompanying her as his personal coach. In
fact after recommending his name to the Indian Olympic Association, I have
also requested him to talk to IOA directly. The fact is that Government
has refused any personal trainer for any players for which AICF or its Secretary
cannot be found fault with.
-
We have the copy of the letter from Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (Humpy
is employed in Oil company) instructing that all chess players to participate
in the Indian tournaments and not to be permitted to any foreign tours during
the period of the two GM tournaments in January & February. Petroleum
Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) is the nodal agency controlling the sportsmen
employees of all oil companies in India and all players are bound by their
rules.
The PSPB is an affiliated member of the All India Chess Federation we are
bound to honour their commitments. Hence, while we had no objection to her
participants in Czech tournament we had indicated that it is not possible
for us to consider to her request for Gibralter tournament favaourably.
It is for the first time that in India AICF arranged for back to back tournaments
one at Delhi and the other at Chennai and these tournaments attract more
than 20 Grandmasters. So it is our wish that players like Humpy should participate
in such events. In fact we have been repeatedly asked by our members, chess
lovers and the press why we are not requesting all top players to play in
India. Therefore, we want players like her to play. So you will find that
the above two allegation against AICF or the Secretary are either out of
not knowing the whole truth or a deliberate attempts to malign us.
-
It is a lie to say that AICF agreed to spend for Mr. Koneru Ashok. On
the contrary we have sent a mail to Humpy informing her very clearly that
AICF cannot foot his bills.
-
Koneru Humpy has never sought the permission of AICF to participate in
any tournament before. First time we received a request in August and we
have not denied her any permission.
-
Her ticket for the World Championship at Nalchik, Russia, was given to
her before she left India. What prevented her to inform us about the return
dates of the tickets so that we could have given her the ticket she wanted.
She could have even mailed us from Russia and we would have been duty bound
to get her ticket. After all now-a-days e-tickets are issued. She need not
have troubled her father for this. India had sent an official coach/Manager
WIM Anupama Gokhale to the same championship. They could have utilized her
services also. We had checked up with WIM Anupama, and she confirmed that
when she asked Humpy if she could stay back, Humpy had replied saying not
necessary. In fact we are hearing this for the first time through the media.
-
The World Championship Bronze certificate can be issued only by the organizers
at Nalchik, Russia, and it is common knowledge that AICF cannot issue the
merit certificate.
-
It is common knowledge that whenever a kit sponsor is involved, the most
important thing he expects is that the players have to wear T-Shirts with
their logo. This is one of the main conditions for sponsorship. For the
first time in Indian Chess history we had a sponsor and all the players
were paid money to represent the Country in the Chess Olympiad. Koneru Humpy
is no exception. Not only Humpy, if any player is seen playing without the
T-Shirt the AICF is duty bound to caution. That is exactly what AICF did
in this case with Humpy.
-
I have nothing to say on her personal remarks about me. She is free to
have her opinion. But what ever decision the AICF takes it is only after
discussing with people like Mr. Bharat Singh and Mr.R.M.Dongre. But she
was all praise for AICF administration when we enabled her mother to accompany
her to Asian Games at Doha as her “personal trainer”.
D.V. Sunder (right), Secretary of the All India Chess Federation, with
Ravindra Dongre, Deputy President of Commonwealth Chess Association
-
It will be interesting to note that Humpy refused to play in the World
Women Team Chess Championship held at Ningbo, China, from 01st to 12th September,
2009 just because the AICF did not accede to her father's request to spend
for him. This is for the first time ever that India qualified for the World
Women Team Chess Championship and only ten countries qualified to play in
this coveted championship. She had also indicated that she will play in
selected Women tournaments for the Country. But within 15 days she plays
for a club in the European Women Team Championship. She did not play in
the Dresden Olympiad also. Will it be wrong on the part of AICF to request
the best player of the Country to represent India? And can that be construed
as harrassment?
-
One thing is very clear to us that Ms. Koneru Humpy will play for the
country only if her father or mother accompanies her.
-
These personal allegations are not acceptable and totally unwarranted.
In fact, I had requested Mr. Koneru Ashok to come to the AICF Central Council
meeting where all our office bearers and State representatives will be present
on 26th September, 2009, so that we can sort out all issues, to which he
refused to come.
- The AICF has open mind on these issues. Koneru Humpy is free to meet all
of us at her convenience to discuss and sort out her grievances if any.
Finally the entire Indian Chess fraternity knows my contribution to the growth
of the game of chess in India. Just to highlight a few of my personal contributions:
a. I had organized the All India Bank open FIDE rated chess tournament annually
from 1978 to 1992.
b. I organized the Vishy Anand-Alexei Dreev World candidates at Chennai in
1991.
c. I organized the Videocon IM tournament in 1993
d. I organized the Asian Zonals in 1994
e. I organized the Sakthi Grandmasters tournament in 1995
f. I organized the Penta Media Grandmasters in 1998
g. I organized the Asian Continental Women Championship in 2001
h. I organized the Asian Junior in 2008
Further to the above I have organized countless National Championships and
State Championships. Therefore, in all humility I would like to tell you that
there are very few parallels to be compared with me in my endeavour to promote
the game of chess in India.
D.V. Sundar
Hon. Secretary
ALL INDIA CHESS FEDERATION
|
