A video circulating on social media shows Vaishali extending her hand before the start of a fourth-round match against Yakubboev. However, Yakubboev sits down without acknowledging her gesture, leaving the Indian player visibly uncomfortable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Once the video went viral, Yakubboev posted a response on 'X' saying, \"I want to explain the situation that happened in the game with Vaishali. With all due respect to women and Indian chess players, I want to inform everyone that I do not touch other women for religious reasons.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I respect Vaishali and her brother as the strongest chess players in India. If I have offended her with my behaviour, I apologise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I have some additional explanations: 1)Chess is not haram. 2) What I did before (referring to the game with Divya in 2023 and cases like that) I consider it wrong for me. 3) I do what I need to do. I do not insist others not to shake hands with the opposite gender or for women to wear hijab or burqa. It is their business what to do,\" he explained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
To prevent a similar situation in the eighth-round match against Romania's Irina Bulmaga, Yakubboev said that he informed her beforehand about his religious beliefs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Today I told Irina Bulmaga about it. She agreed to it. But when I came to the playing hall, the arbiters told me that I should at least do Namaste as a gesture. In the games with Divya and Vaishali I couldn't tell them about it before the game and there was an awkward situation,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 23-year-old lost the match against Vashali, who did not offer a handshake after beating the Uzbek player. The Uzbek, however, won against Bulmaga in the eighth round and is currently on four points after eight rounds in the Challengers' section.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Today I told Irina Bulmaga about it. She agreed to it. But when I came to the playing hall, the arbiters told me that I should at least do Namaste as a gesture. In the games with Divya and Vaishali I couldn't tell them about it before the game and there was an awkward situation,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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