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Sports Desk, June 11, 2025 : Rani Hamid (82), a legendary Bangladeshi chess player, has encountered significant distress while participating in an open Grandmaster chess tournament in Delhi. Due to her age, Rani Hamid never travels alone for international tournaments and is always accompanied by a companion. This time, her companion was chess player Asiya Sultana, who was denied entry into India by Delhi immigration authorities and deported to Bangladesh.
The duo traveled to Delhi the day before Eid. Asiya was detained at the airport overnight and sent back to Dhaka on the morning of Eid. Asiya explained that both she and Rani Hamid traveled on SAARC visas, but immigration officials cited her previous participation in a chess tournament in Kashmir under a medical visa as a violation, barring her entry. Asiya clarified, “I had a medical visa and planned to play a tournament in Kashmir while seeking medical consultation. When no doctor was available, I only played the tournament and returned. I explained this and even offered to pay a fine, but they cited records from Kolkata immigration and sent me back.”
Asiya Sultana is not a well-known name in Bangladesh’s chess scene. She has been playing for two to three years and, despite being an amateur, holds a chess rating. She recently accompanied Rani Hamid to Sri Lanka and was set to play alongside her in Delhi. Devastated by her deportation, Asiya said, “Rani Aunty is over 80. She went to this tournament because of me. She suffered greatly due to my ordeal. She faced mistreatment at immigration, and handling luggage and other formalities was very challenging for her.”
Rani Hamid was scheduled to compete in another tournament in Mumbai after Delhi, but Asiya’s deportation has jeopardized this plan. Her son, former footballer Kaiser Hamid, expressed concern: “It’s very difficult for Amma to be alone abroad. Asiya has been her companion in several tournaments. Without her, Amma is struggling and unable to play well. We are deeply worried.”
Rani Hamid is a celebrated chess icon in the subcontinent, continuing to compete globally despite her age. The Delhi tournament organizers covered all her expenses, and she is regarded as a chess ambassador and role model for aspiring players. However, her ordeal and Asiya’s deportation have been prominently reported by The Times of India, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
AI/MR
