‘A World Champion And A Bronze Medallist’: Viswanathan Anand Showers Praise On Humpy Koneru, R Vaishali – News18

Last Updated:January 01, 2025, 5:55 PM IST

Veteran Humpy Koneru clinched the Rapid title in the women’s section before R Vaishali added a coat of sheen to the Indian contingent’s performance at the event in New York with her bronze triumph in the Blitz event that followed.

Legendary Indian chess player Viswanathan Anand showered praise on the nation’s women representatives following their incredible showing at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship.

Veteran Humpy Koneru clinched the Rapid title in the women’s section before R Vaishali added a coat of sheen to the Indian contingent’s performance at the event in New York with her bronze triumph in the Blitz event that followed.

Anand wrote, “Congratulations to Vaishali for taking Bronze.”

“Her qualification was truly a power-packed performance,” the five-time World Champion continued.

He lauded the efforts of the product of the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy and expressed delight in her achievements.

“Our @WacaChess mentee has done us proud. We are so happy to be supporting her and her chess,” the 55-year-old said.

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Anand went on to take stock of the milestones the Indian chess fraternity managed to scale in the year 2024. He also recollected the hope he had for the development of the sport in the nation and revelled in the improvements demonstrated by the younger generation to help reach the point it has in the world of chess.

“What a way to wrap up 2024 !! In 2021 we thought we would get stronger chess players but here we have it a World Champion and a Bronze medallist,” he rejoiced.

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India enjoyed a stupendous year in Chess as the national contingent clinched the FIDE Chess Olympiad in both the men’s and the women’s categories before D Gukesh became the youngest World Champion with his win over Chinese G Ding Liren.