The 21st Delhi International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, currently underway, has been marred by an unfortunate incident involving a Bangladeshi chess player. Ashiya Sultana, who accompanied 80-year-old Rani Hamid to the tournament, was denied entry into India upon arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and subsequently deported back to Bangladesh.

Sultana's denial of entry stems from a reported blacklisting by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). The reason for this blacklisting is allegedly due to Sultana's participation in a chess tournament in Kolkata during a previous visit to India, while she was in the country on a medical visa. According to reports, the Indian immigration authorities considered this a violation of her visa conditions.

The incident has left Rani Hamid, a celebrated and veteran chess player from Bangladesh, deeply disturbed and emotionally distressed. Hamid, a Woman International Master (WIM) and a 20-time National Women's Champion of Bangladesh, had been looking forward to participating in the tournament. However, Sultana's deportation has significantly impacted her well-being and ability to focus on her games.

Sources indicate that Sultana was detained overnight at the airport's immigration center. She was also denied access to her luggage and was compelled to purchase a return ticket to Bangladesh at double the cost. This ordeal has understandably caused considerable distress to both Sultana and Hamid.

Hamid expressed her frustration and sadness, stating that Sultana had all the necessary documents and was unaware that participating in a chess tournament on a medical visa would be a violation. She further lamented the lack of communication between Indian and Bangladeshi authorities, suggesting that the Bangladesh Chess Federation should have been informed beforehand to prevent such an incident.

Hamid also recounted pleading with immigration officials, requesting them to impose a fine on Sultana if necessary, but to allow her to stay and participate in the tournament. She emphasized that Sultana was not a criminal and her only "offense" was playing chess.

Bharat Singh Chauhan, the president of the Delhi Chess Association (DCA), acknowledged the incident as an unfortunate challenge that sometimes arises when organizing large-scale international events. He explained that visa issues are not uncommon and that Sultana was likely blacklisted due to the previous visa violation.

The incident has not only affected Rani Hamid's emotional state but also her performance in the tournament. As someone who prefers not to travel alone due to her age, Hamid is now participating in the tournament without her companion. Reports suggest that she has struggled to concentrate on her games and has only managed one win and one draw in the initial rounds.