With flowers and chocolate, Uzbek GM Yakubboev says sorry to Vaishali for handshake furore
Wijk Aan Zee (The Netherlands), Jan 31 (PTI): Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev offered flowers, chocolate and a personal apology to Indian GM R Vaishali after causing quite a stir by refusing to shake hands with her before their game in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament here, citing "religious reasons".
Yakubboev met Vaishali, who was accompanied by her younger brother GM R Praggnanandhaa and mother Nagalakshmi, on the sidelines of the ongoing event. The 23-year-old reiterated that he regrets the "awkward situation" that arose because of his actions.
"I am sorry (about) what happened," Yakubboev told Vaishali in a video that was shared online by 'ChessBase India'.
Vaishali accepted his apology and assured him that she did not want him to feel bad about what transpired.
"It's clearly understandable. I didn't take it that way, you don't have to feel bad," she responded.
Nonetheless, Yakubboev made it clear that he meant no disrespect.
"...it was an awkward situation for both of us. I was in a hurry that day and really forgot. I want to wish good luck to both of you," he said.
"You actually apologised, I clearly remember. You said sorry," Vaishali said.
In a video that went viral on social media earlier this week, Vaishali could be seen extending her hand before the start of a fourth-round contest against Yakubboev, who sat down without responding to it.
Yakubboev, who became a GM in 2019, lost that match in the Challengers' section of the tournament, which is in its 87th edition.
Yakubboev, a practising Muslim, posted a lengthy response on 'X' saying, he had all the respect for Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa but he "does not touch other women due to religious reasons."
However, that claim was ridiculed when an old video of him shaking hands with another Indian player Divya Deshmukh cropped up online.
The Uzbek, while responding to it, stated that the exchange with Deshmukh was also wrong in his belief.
He drew criticism for his statements and after his personal apology to Vaishali, he also met Deshmukh with flowers and chocolate to express regret. A picture of that meeting was also shared by 'ChessBase India'.
Yakubboev also had a brief conversation with Praggnanandhaa during his meeting with Vaishali, reiterating that he has immense respect for him too.
All three players wished each other the best for their upcoming rounds in the event before Yakubboev folded his hands in a 'Namaste' to say goodbye.
Uzbek GM Nodirbek Yakubboev did not shake hands with Vaishali before the start of 4th round at the Tata Steel Challengers 2025. This act of not shaking hands led to huge outcry on social media where people were not happy with the way in which Yakubboev had dealt with the… pic.twitter.com/R35SHGVZM5
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) January 30, 2025
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Jharkhand civic polls: 12 pc voter turnout recorded in 48 ULBs till 9 am
Ranchi (PTI): Around 12 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 am in the civic polls to 48 urban local bodies in Jharkhand on Monday, an election official said.
Voting, which commenced at 7 am, is underway amid tight security. It will continue till 5 pm, he said.
"Voter turnout of 12 per cent was recorded till 9 am. Polling is underway peacefully," State Election Commission (SEC) secretary Radhe Shyam Prasad said.
Over 43 lakh voters are eligible to decide the fate of 6,000-plus candidates.
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State Election Commissioner (SEC) Alka Tiwari exercised her franchise at ward number 40 in Ranchi.
"Polling is underway peacefully across the state and reports are so far good from every ULB. I would like to appeal to the voters to exercise their franchise," Tiwari told reporters.
Prasad said the elections are underway for the posts of mayor and chairperson in 48 ULBs, and councillors in 1,042 wards across nine municipal corporations, 20 nagar parishads and 19 nagar panchayats.
As many as 562 candidates, including 235 women, are in the fray for the posts of mayor and chairperson, while 5,562 candidates, including 2,727 women, are contesting the posts of ward councillors.
Prasad said adequate security arrangements have been made in all the booths.
A total of 4,307 polling booths have been set up for the elections. Of these, 896 have been identified as hyper-sensitive and 2,445 as sensitive.
