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Gukesh Dommaraju said his favourite sportsperson is tennis legend Novak Djokovic.
Chess World Champion D Gukesh and Indian cricketer MS Dhoni (PTI)
Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh became the youngest-ever classical chess world champion at 18 years after beating title-holder Ding Liren in the last game of a nerve-wracking showdown in Singapore.
After winning the World Chess Championship, Gukesh Dommaraju was asked who his favourite sportsperson is as the young Indian star named cricket legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
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The chess protege went on to add that his favourite is currently tennis legend Novak Djokovic.
“When I was younger it was Indian cricketer MS Dhoni,” D Gukesh said at the press conference.
“Now it is Novak Djokovic.”
“I think both are great athletes and admire a lot of things about them,” he added.
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His history-scripting world title was not just a result of good strategy on the chess board, said on Monday, crediting mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, who has also helped India and MSD lift the 2011 50-ver Cricket World Cup.
“In a world championship, it’s not only about chess. There is a lot of mental and emotional pressure to deal with. Paddy’s teachings helped me in that regard,” Gukesh was quoted as saying to the press.
Upton, a renowned mental conditioning coach, worked with Gukesh in the run-up to and during the 14-game marathon event in Singapore.
“The suggestions and the conversations I have had with him, have been very important for me and my development as a player,” he said.
Gukesh also detailed how his association started with the South African, who has the experience of working with the Indian men’s hockey team that bagged a bronze at the Paris Olympics as well.
“Paddy has been a very important part of my team. After I won the Candidates (April), I asked Sandeep sir (Sandeep Singhal of Westbridge Capital) for a mental trainer,” Gukesh recalled.
“He immediately put me in touch with Paddy Upton, who has a lot of experience working with high-performance athletes,” said the youngster.
(With inputs from Agencies)
- Location :
Chennai [Madras], India
- First Published:
December 17, 2024, 13:08 IST
News sports ‘When I Was Younger It Was MS Dhoni, Now…’: World Champion D Gukesh Reveals His Favourite Sportsperson
