BENGALURU: Five years ago, Koneru Humpy had what she called an "unexpected" win. She had made a comeback to competitive tournaments a year earlier at the 2018 Batumi Olympiad, following a self-imposed break to navigate a tough pregnancy, its attendant prenatal complications, and the motherhood that followed.
When she arrived in Moscow for the 2019 World Rapid and Blitz Championship, there was little to suggest that she could be a title contender. "Humpy, why do you even want to play rapid which you're really no good at when you could stick to classical?" her old foe Ju Wenjun chuckled ahead of the tournament. Humpy battled through racy tiebreaks after a three-way tie for first-place to win her first women's world rapid title. Only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the world rapid crown. On Saturday, in New York, the 37-year-old Indian Grandmaster did it a second time - this time without the need for tiebreaks. China's Ju and Russia's Kateryna Lagno finished runner-up and in third place respectively.
Humpy is now tied with Ju as the only players to have won the Women's World Rapid title twice. Last year, Humpy finished runner-up in the rapid.
This story is from the December 30, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Mumbai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 30, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Mumbai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Nature is pure magic, and I feel incomplete without my camera
Raveena Tandon's passion for photography is rooted in her love for wildlife.
Fulton focuses on World Cup qualification
Craig Fulton had a short chat with Graham Reid before taking his seat in an empty Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here to watch Delhi SG Pipers' practice in the morning.
Abhi-Ash vacation together, put divorce rumours to rest
The better part of 2024 had fans speculating over the divorce of actors Abhishek Bachchan (48) and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (51).
Haaland fires brace as Manchester City rout West Ham; Chelsea held
Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City pummelled West Ham 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday while Newcastle inflicted another painful defeat on Ange Postecoglou's struggling Tottenham.
Saikia, Bhatia Set to Become BCCI Secretary and Treasurer
Devajit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia filed nominations for the posts of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary and treasurer respectively and are set to be elected unopposed in the Special General Meeting (SGM) to be held in Mumbai on January 12.
Pant breaks free; Bumrah injures back
Fast bowler awaits scan results and he will be key if India are to win SCG Test after southpaw's blitz puts his team 145 ahead
Shooters suffer due to faulty equipment at New Delhi range
Shooters are paying the price for faulty equipment at the Karni Singh range here, where the National Championships are being held.
Kohli exits in rage, maybe for one last time in Australia
For a while on Day 2 of the Sydney Test, it felt like the clock had stopped.
Perfect storm in Sydney raises India's hopes
Right until Rishabh Pant walked out to bat on Saturday, wickets had been the order of the day in the Sydney Test.
Not retiring, sat out of the final Test for the team, says Rohit
Was it a good decision? Was it the right decision? Who took it? Did he opt out? Was he forced out? Will he call it quits? The questions had been never-ending and with the Indian cricket team working in its regular secret service mode, there was no way to know the real answers to them. In a way, this Sydney Test has been about Rohit Sharma without him actually playing a part in it.
