World Chess Champion Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand termed the controversy over his nationality as disappointing but said he does not want to stretch the issue too far and would prefer to move on.
|Last Updated: Aug 24, 2010, 10:36 PM IST|Source: Bureau
New Delhi: World Chess Champion Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand termed the controversy over his nationality as disappointing but said he does not want to stretch the issue too far and would prefer to move on.
"When the whole thing came about it was disappointing but I think by now I understand that these are bureaucratic things which happen and you can see the funny side of it. The silver lining is that people now know that I am really an Indian completely," Anand told TV channels.
Anand today found himself embroiled in a row after the University of Hyderabad delayed its plan to confer an honorary doctorate on him following questions raised by the Union Human Resources Development Ministry over his nationality."I have often trained in Spain but I never gave away my citizenship. That`s always been clear. So I don`t really know why this came up especially after we clarified the matter," he said.
"I don`t want to analyse this too much. The mistake happened, the minister has apologised. I think we should leave it at that. I think we should move on," he added.
The four-time world champion Indian said he decided to decline the doctorate for now simply because he was busy and wanted to have a proper ceremony."I accepted the minister`s apology. There was no issue in that. It was just that the day was simply filled up.”
"Actually the main reason I came to Hyderabad was for this simultaneous chess game. I had to focus on my commitments here and then it looked like it would be a rushed ceremony so I thought we should do it properly sometime later. So, I will accept the doctorate in due course of time," Anand said.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.