Grandmaster Koneru Humpy became the toast of the nation on Monday, winning the first gold medal for India at the Asian Games, in the women's rapid chess event, in Doha.
Ranked second in the world among women chess players, Humpy accumulated eight points in the nine-round tournament, played in the Swiss league format, at the Al Dana Indoor hall.
The 19-year-old Indian beat Dana Aketayeva of Kazakhstan in the ninth and final round to bring the laurels to the country in the sport, making its debut at the multi-discipline event.
China's Zhao Xue, who was just half a point adrift of the Indian, placed second.
India's medal tally at the Games stands at one gold, three silver and two bronze.
Humpy, who was surprised by Xue in the sixth round on Sunday, came back with vengeance to win all the three matches scheduled on the final day.
The Vijaywada stalwart first got the better of Irine Kharisma Sukandar of Indonesia in the seventh round and subsequently beat Mahri Geldyyeva of Turkmenistan in the eighth, maintaining her half point lead to end Chinese dominance.
Humpy had recently defeated former World champion Anatoly Karpov of Russia at Cap d'Adge Chess Festival in France in rapid format. She will now play in the team championships, to be held in the classical format from Wednesday.
