FIDE World Cup 2025 final: Would love to be part of chess league, says Saina Nehwal after making the ceremonial first move
Panaji, Nov 25 (LatestNewsX) – While in Goa to catch the thrilling final of the FIDE World Cup 2025, former world number 1 and India’s celebrated badminton star Saina Nehwal shared her excitement about possibly picking up a new hobby: chess. Observing the opening move between GM Wei Yi and GM Javokhir Sindarov, she likened the strategic planning required in the sport to the tactical thinking that goes into a rally on the badminton court.
The 35‑year‑old, who has already earned two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, admitted that she would have loved to see an Indian player compete in the event, but she enjoyed watching the best players in the world and felt it was an eye‑opening experience. She added that her past involvement with the Chess Super League—as a co‑owner of a team in 2021—has made her more curious about the game.
“I understand it takes a lot of courage, lot of calmness and you know sometimes when you are playing chess especially I saw that even in difficult moments you have to really control it, not show your emotions,” she remarked from the sidelines.
“I think mentally chess is one of the most difficult games. You have to plan your moves in advance. It’s a lot like badminton but of course we have the rally to rally thing but in chess I think you have to plan all the moves a little faster and till the end,” she added.
Saina also reflected on her brief stint in the Pickleball League, noting that India possesses the talent to become a leading sports nation globally. She stressed that with a little encouragement from parents and a supportive system, more young athletes could turn their gifts into long‑term careers.
Saina said, “I have seen some matches of the league, and once you watch it for some time, you want to see the whole match, although it goes longer. But it’s fun to see the matches, it’s intense, in the end it becomes very intense. I really enjoyed it, I had a lot of fun, and hopefully in the future I get a chance to be a part of the Chess league or whatever, I am definitely looking forward to it.”
hs/
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
