00:00It was very difficult what happened in 22 because even though it was a historic bronze for the Indian women team
00:05We had not won a medal at the Chess Olympics until then
00:08For us, you know, we lost the last match
00:10We had been leading the tournament throughout and it felt like the gold was just sort of snatched from us at that last moment
00:17So that joy of celebrating the bronze was impossible to feel
00:22Because yeah, like I said, it wasn't that we won a bronze. We lost a gold
00:26Getting back into the team in 24, you know, I I felt it was my 8th Chess Olympic
00:32I don't know if I'll be in the team next time and for me getting into the team this time
00:37I just felt like I had sort of made peace with myself that perhaps Chennai was where it was at for me
00:42You know, I might not play another Olympic and bronze he likha tha
00:45But when I got into the team, I just thought ki jo bhi hai
00:48Ja kar khelna hai to give to give our best and I think I had it
00:53I had this feeling that there's a reason why this has happened, you know
00:56It's been a long journey and what happened in 22, it's time to settle the score
00:59I think that's one of the probably the best
01:03Part about about being a sports person being an athlete
01:07Is that you know, you get to do what you love you get to dedicate your life
01:12to the work in a profession that you love and along the way perhaps inspire and
01:18Let others also dream and follow their own passions and believe in themselves
01:21So I think if you're able to
01:25Able to do that for a younger generation
01:26It's it's the best thing about sport and I and I hope that you know from my city as well
01:31We can have many many more girls come forward and play. I think it's very difficult
01:36You know when as an athlete you dedicate so much of your time the efforts if they don't if they go unrecognized
01:44It's very difficult
01:45And how are you going to promote a sporting culture in a state if you can't celebrate the achievements of your own players?
01:51I hope that changes in the future. It's been a difficult journey for me throughout
01:57You know and that that's the reason why we see so many athletes come out from certain states more than others. It's because
02:04It's also the vision of sports right because with sports
02:07It's not just about becoming a professional player and bringing laurels to the country or your city
02:11It's what sports teaches us as well
02:13Imagine a youth young boys and girls being bought up on the values of sports learning discipline learning accountability responsibility for your action
02:21Learning so many things. How are you going to it? How are you going to truly inspire them to do that?
02:27If you don't recognize the efforts of those who've gone on to do it and achieve for the country
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