Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli was seated on dias in the midst of the felicitation perform for the gold-medal profitable chess Olympiad groups, when she heard her two-year-old daughter Hanvika name out for her from the viewers. Not eager to disturb the circulation of her teammate Divya Deshmukh, who was talking at that time, Harika gestured to her grandmother, Sudeshna Devi, 77, to distract Hanvika but it surely didn’t work.
And so Harika obtained off the stage, carried her daughter in her arms and walked in direction of the top of the packed corridor through the felicitation organised by the All India Chess Federation .
Harika has been away from her daughter for over three weeks, serving to India win a historic double-gold in Budapest – Open and Ladies’s occasion – on the Chess Olympiad. The 33-year-old veteran, who performed the highest board for the ladies’s group, mentioned she wasn’t apprehensive how Hanvika would cope as a result of she obtained the absolute best care: her sister, mom, and grandmother forming the assist system again dwelling in Guntur.
The 33-year-old veteran, who performed the highest board for the ladies’s group, mentioned she wasn’t apprehensive how Hanvika would cope as a result of she obtained the absolute best care: her sister, mom, and grandmother forming the assist system again dwelling in Guntur. (Categorical Picture by Anil Sharma)
“I used to be by no means apprehensive once I was away from her, as a result of I do know she was in a lot safer fingers than me. Nobody can deal with her higher than my mother and father, grandmom and sister. They’ll take additional care as a result of they know I’m not there. There have been occasions once I haven’t spoken to her for weeks as a result of you will get emotional speaking to your daughter. It’s tough,” Harika mentioned.
When Harika beat Azerbaijan’s Gunay Mammadzada within the remaining spherical for a vital win, she clasped her face in her fingers and cried. These have been tears of aid and pleasure she says. Harika debuted on the Chess Olympiad in 2004 and it took her twenty years to be a part of a gold-medal profitable group. In 2022, when the ladies’s group gained bronze, she was anticipating her baby and couldn’t play a vital recreation as a result of the physician had suggested her towards sitting for too lengthy.
“I assume my anticipate gold has been the longest amongst gamers I do know. Through the years I by no means understood why this (chess Olympiad) shouldn’t be being cracked. Final time it was throughout my being pregnant and after that I one way or the other began doubting if this may occur (India profitable gold). I’m an emotional individual and after I grew to become a mother I’ve began overtly exhibiting emotion much more,” Harika mentioned.
She wasn’t anticipated to be a part of the Olympiad squad this time round. However coach and group captain Abhijit Kunte needed both one of many veterans, Harika or Koneru Humpy to play. Humpy opted out due to ‘private causes’, Kunte mentioned. “Harika requested me to provide her a day to consider it,” he recalled.
Harika, nonetheless, was busy planning Hanvika’s second birthday. The household was set to journey to Bali and she or he needed to plan all the journey on her personal. “On August 9 I obtained again to India from one other event and on August 24 we needed to be in Bali. I needed to make the household journey excellent as a result of I’m a perfectionist. I didn’t get sufficient time to organize for the Olympiad and I used to be feeling responsible about it. However I’m comfortable I held my floor (on the Olympiad)”.
Aside from her daughter’s birthday, Harika had different issues on her thoughts too. Her mom and grandmother each had scheduled knee surgical procedures which needed to be placed on maintain. For the reason that Chess Olympiad field has now been ticked Harika can deal with the homefront once more.
Catching them younger
Hanvika has already been uncovered to the sport of chess, however Harika shouldn’t be obsessed along with her daughter following in her footsteps.
“So we do take up a chessboard. She is aware of items. She understands,” Harika mentioned. However as a two-year-old, you by no means know whether or not she’s going to show her abilities or not. As a mom, I’m making an attempt to inculcate sports activities into her pursuits. However on this era, youngsters know what they need early on. I can’t determine for her. I simply would adore it if she may select any sport, even when it’s success or failure. I believe sport teaches rather a lot… taking setbacks or find out how to deal with failures. It makes you extra mature at a really early age and disciplined. So I consider that it may possibly assist rather a lot in life.”
Now that she has tasted gold-medal profitable success, Harika continues to be mulling about her Olympiad future. The enjoyment of victory and the felicitations, together with assembly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is just too recent in her thoughts to make an enormous resolution instantly.
“I actually don’t know. I believe it’s too many feelings proper now occurring. It’s only a good feeling to complete in a gold medal group. Perhaps… I don’t know what’s going to occur sooner or later after two years, what would be the scenario. However proper now should you ask me my emotions, I’m like, okay. I believe sufficient… an excessive amount of stress. And possibly I can consider my particular person recreation fairly than enjoying all this (group occasions) That is my psychological state proper now. However I don’t wish to be like, one hundred percent positive, after which come again and play as a result of I actually don’t know what’s going to occur after two years.”