'...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.'
Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev offered flowers, chocolate and a personal apology to Indian GM R Vaishali after causing a stir by refusing to shake hands with her before their game in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk Aan Zee, The Netherlands, 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.
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