Uzbekistan CEO Nodirbek Yakubboev makes ‘Namaste’ gesture against Harica Dronavalli (Screengrab) NEW DELHI: In this digital age where every gesture is scrutinized under the microscopic lens of social media, a casual exchange at the recently concluded Grenke Freestyle Open turned into a massive debate on social media.When Indian Grandmaster (GM) Harika Dronavalli extended her hand to resign her game against Uzbekistani GM Nodirbko Yakubboev, the latter responded with a polite “Namaste” with a folded hand instead of the traditional handshake.
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Harika Dronavalli Exclusive: Inside Grenke’s #chess win, viral no-handshake incident and moreThe clip, once it landed on social media, went viral almost immediately, drawing a mixture of cultural praise and harsh criticism towards Yakubboev for “rejecting” the handshake.However, Harika has now stepped in to clear the air and express her disappointment at the way the young Uzbek player is being treated by the digital court of public opinion.Speaking exclusively to TimesofIndia.com, Harika was quick to dismiss any notion of malice or disrespect, revealing that the exchange was much more coordinated than it appeared on screen.“I was surprised when I saw these videos and people blaming him because I felt really bad. Especially before the game he came and said, ‘I can’t shake hands.’ I said, it’s totally fine. I mean, I understand,” said Harika.The confusion that the audience witnessed at the end of the play was not the result of Yakubboev’s coldness, but rather a byproduct of Harik’s own decades-long professional habits.After more than 26 years of playing at the highest level, the act of extending a hand at the end of a game is an involuntary reflex for the Indians legend.“In so many years, my hand instinctively went away when I resigned. Then when he said Namaste, I realized. I said sorry, it was just out of habit. Unfortunately, it was one board that had this camera on us and it kind of spread in a different way, which I would never want someone to be blamed for something they didn’t do,” noted the 35-year-old GM.“He never did anything wrong”: HarikaFor the 24-year-old Yakubboev, this is not the first time his religious beliefs have clashed with the rigid protocols of the chessboard. There was a similar incident with Vaishali Rameshbabu during the Tata Steel Challengers in Wijk Aan Zee last year, leading to considerable confusion and subsequent apologies.On that occasion, Yakubboev tried to present Vaishali with flowers and chocolates on the sidelines, clarifying that his refusal to touch women was rooted in his religious beliefs and not a lack of respect for his opponents.Harika, who knows Vaishali intimately, noted that neither of them took offense. He believes it is unfortunate that Yakubboev is seen in a light that contradicts his true character.“He never insulted anyone, he never did anything wrong. He just informed. But when you only see actions, you miss the context and you can take it the wrong way,” added Harika.Apart from the viral clip, Harika’s performance in Germany was a milestone for Indian sports as she secured the top women’s prize and became the first Indian to qualify for the inaugural FIDE World Championship in Women’s Freestyle Chess.Still, she lamented that such catchy moments often overshadow real sporting achievements and expressed concern that the unnecessary spotlight could take a toll on a player’s mental well-being, especially when they have done nothing wrong.READ ALSO: ‘Blank mind’ and bold leap – How Harika Dronavalli broke freestyle chess on debut“It’s sad to see that certain things take more attention than chess. It could have affected him psychologically, which was not necessary. For me, I believe that everyone is good, everyone tries to do their best and has their own belief system. We just respect each other and try to play chess on the board,” she concluded.
