Sports

Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli To Spearhead India's Challenge In Asian Games

Humpy and Harika in women's section and Vidit Gujrathi and young Arjun Erigaisi in men's section will compete in the individual categories.

Humpy is a two-time Asian Games gold medallist.
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India is all set to send a 10-member chess squad to the Asian Games, scheduled to start on September 23, and will include Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli.

Double Asian Games gold medallist Humpy, along with Harika, will compete in the women's category, whereas Vidit Gujrathi and Arjun Erigaisi will be at the forefront in men's category.

The three remaining members in the women's contingent are Vantika Aggarwal, R Vaishali and Savitha Shri. On the men's side, it will be D Gukesh, P Harikrishna and R Praggnanandhaa alongside Gujrathi and Erigaisi.

All ten players were part of the recently-concluded Global Chess League (GCL), where they competed against some of the greatest chess players from around the world, including Magnus Carlsen.

The announcement of the teams was made during the General Body meeting of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) on Sunday.

Humpy, who considered skipping the event due to the lasting effects of COVID-19 in China, is India's senior-most player at the Games.

In 2006 Asian Games in Doha, she had won gold in both singles and mixed team events. Harika is also an Asian Games medallist, who won bronze in the 2010 edition in Guangzhou.

Chess will be part of the Asian Games after a span of 13 years.

The team:

Men: D Gukesh, Vidit Gujrathi, Arjun Erigaisi, P Harikrishna and R Praggnanandhaa.

Women:  Koneru Humpy, D. Harika, R Vaishali, Vantika Aggarwal and Savitha Shri.