Harika gives credit to Surya, Hari

PUNE: Instead of rushing back to India after losing the World Women's Chess Championship semifinals, D Harika has decided to enjoy the hosts' hospitality this time. The Indian grandmaster lost to eventual champion Mariya Muzhychuk of Ukraine in the semifinals at Sochi last week, and decided to stay back for six days and take her metal on the podium.
The 24-year-old suffered a heart-wrenching defeat after being on the verge of winning the penultimate game in the tiebreak against Mariya Muzhychuk. "It was quite painful," Harika told TOI on Monday.
Her voice suggested that she had come over the defeat though. Ditto with her status: "Happy times are back."
"I was the 12th seed and played strong players except in the quarters. So I'm happy with my effort. I have learnt from each knockout World Championships. Grandmasters Surya Shekhar Ganguly and P Harikrishna have helped me so much. They both were my pillars of strength," she said.