In the women\u2019s section, GM Koneru Humpy will not be playing for the country this time around owing to some personal reasons, a senior official added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe players for two teams \u2013Open and Women- have been selected for the chess Olympiad. The teams have been registered on the FIDE portal,\u201d AICF president Nitin Narang told IANS.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cDiscussions are on with a foreign coach to hold a pre-event camp,\u201d GM Abhijit Kunte, chief coach and chairman, selection committee, AICF told IANS.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
According to Narang, the camp is scheduled for August end and coaches and exact date will be finalised soon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Interestingly, the Indian Open team consists of three players who are in the top 10 clubs in the chess world in terms of ratings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kunte said, \u201cThe team for the Open category would comprise of GMs Arjun Erigaisi (World No.4 Rating 2778), Gukesh (Rank 7, Rating 2763), R Praggnanandhaa (Rank 8, Rating 2757), Vidit Santhosh Gujrathi (Rank 22, Rating 2720) and the reserve P Harikrishna (Rank 37, Rating 2695).\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former World Champion GM V Anand (Rank 11, Rating 2751) will not be playing for the country.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe Indian Women\u2019s team for the chess Olympiad will be GM D.Harika (Rank 11, Rating 2491), GM R Vaishali (Rank 14, Rating 2488), International Master (IM) and Woman GM (WGM) Divya Deshmukh (Rank 20, Rating 2464), IM and WGM Vantika Agarwal (Rank 63, Rating 2390) and the reserve player IM and WGM Tania Sachdev (Rank 66, Rating 2386),\u201d Kunte added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
According to Kunte, each team will have a non-playing captain, two coaches and their names are to be finalised.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The AICF will also permit a player\u2019s personal coach as part of the contingent \u2013 on no cost basis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Interestingly, Gukesh\u2019s games will be keenly watched by the world champion China\u2019s GM Ding Liren as the both will be fighting for the world title this year in Singapore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Narang said necessary steps for getting the Indian government\u2019s permission and the grants are initiated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Interestingly, Gukesh\u2019s games will be keenly watched by the world champion China\u2019s GM Ding Liren as the both will be fighting for the world title this year in Singapore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n