Urgent Visa Issue Threatens Pranesh Munirethinam’s Participation in FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships in Hong Kong
Visa Woes Threaten Indian Chess Prodigy Pranesh Munirethinam’s Participation in World Championships
NEW DELHI: A visa snag has thrown a cloud of uncertainty over the participation of Indian chess prodigy Pranesh Munirethinam in the upcoming FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Hong Kong. The urgency of the situation has prompted an appeal from his coach, RB Ramesh, who took to social media to voice his concerns.
On Tuesday, Ramesh revealed that the 19-year-old talent, currently competing in the French League, has yet to receive his visa for Hong Kong, despite applying well in advance. “Our team ChessGurukul is supposed to participate at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship to be organised by @FIDE_chess at Hong Kong between June 16th to 22nd. Our player Pranesh Munirethinam @Praneshchess has not yet obtained the Visa for the same. We have applied for it and would require help from the concerned officials to expedite the same please,” Ramesh tweeted. “Pranesh is currently playing at the French League and is expected to go to Hong Kong directly from France. Need urgent help please to get him Hong Kong Visa!”
The tournament, set to take place from June 17 to 21, will showcase a formidable ChessGurukul lineup, including Indian stars R Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali Rameshbabu. The squad also features Aravindh Chithambaram, Karthikeyan Murali, Rakshitta Ravi, Vishruth B, and Varsha Ramesh.
Ramesh had previously expressed his excitement about fielding a ChessGurukul team on the international stage, stating, “One of my long-term dreams is to field a @chessgurukul team in an International team event, coming to reality! Eagerly looking forward! My wife @Aarthieramesh will be the team manager/captain. Daughter Varsha will be playing as well in the below 2000 board. Each one of them is very, very close to my heart. Dream team!”
Pranesh’s potential absence would be a significant setback for the team. The young player played a crucial support role during Vaishali’s successful Candidates campaign in Cyprus, which earned her a World Championship match against China’s Ju Wenjun. Reflecting on Pranesh’s impact, Vaishali noted, “The idea was I might get tense because there are a lot of tense moments, and he will keep it light. That was the plan. And it exactly happened the same. He has been super supportive throughout the tournament, and we have played a lot of table tennis and padel.”
With the tournament fast approaching, ChessGurukul is hopeful that the visa issue will be resolved swiftly, allowing Pranesh to join his teammates in Hong Kong. As the clock ticks down, the chess community watches closely, hoping for a timely resolution to ensure that this promising talent can showcase his skills on the international stage.