I am pretty much self-made: Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand tells DNA that there is no other secret than staying focused to become a world champion.

What does it take to be a world champion?
I think you should make things simple for your game. If you are not constantly fascinated by it, it’s very difficult to get the motivation necessary. And I think that’s the main thing.

And what does it take to defend it?
The same thing. In fact defending sometimes is more difficult because having achieved it the previous time, you are still reliving that. I think it’s important to move on, to get the next match in your sight and be willing to experiment.

Which is more difficult?
I don’t know. I would say that defending is more difficult. That was my experience as well. The first time I won the title I lost it very fast. But maybe I was aware of that the second time.

How difficult is it to become a world champion being an Indian?
I don’t think nationality has much to do with it.

Are there any inherent difficulties to become a world champion from India?
I don’t think so. In those days, the Soviets had the best training methods. But once I got my chance I started working with the right people. People like Gurevich, Yusupov and Ubilava. And then I think I was able to catch up with their techniques. So the main thing is being ready to learn. Like I told you in the beginning, chess has to excite you.

Is it easy for a young chess player to be a world champion today because they have a role model in you?
Well, very few people become world champions. So I think it’s not necessarily easy or more difficult. If you imagine everybody in the world, the most talented chess players in the world are competing for this, then, you can imagine how difficult it is. And I think that’s always going to be the case.

Do you think another Indian can become a world champion anytime soon?
Well, I try not to see beyond myself. So right now I am focused on remaining the world champion. I will take it from there. But there are a lot of talented chess players here. I think definitely we have the potential.

How do you look at your own fate? Were you a product of your own efforts or the Indian sporting system?
I think I was pretty much self-made. I had a lot of help from my parents, from my wife and all that. I don’t really see myself as a product of any system.

What is it that Indian sports system lacks to produce a world champion?
I don’t know. It’s very difficult to talk about every sport and generalise. I think the main thing is that sports persons must stay very focused on their goal. Must not allow themselves to be easily distracted. If you want to become the world champion, it’s something you have to be very focused on.

Do you think there is as big  sporting culture, system and parental guidance in India as it’s in other countries?
Well, some countries do it well. But like I said the main thing is the individual. I think if you have the potential and you are good enough, you will get support in India. So I don’t think you should think about that too much. But you should stay focused on your sport.

Do you think India can ever become a sporting super power?
Well, we’ll take it one step at a time. Let’s try for two and three and four and then we’ll take it from there but I mean given our population, we should do better.

What do they have to do to reach there?
I think a better support network for sports is necessary. But may be sports persons themselves must take that initiative, former players and so on and help each other.

Do you think the government and private sector should do more?
The government should just provide a good support structure. And if the private sector gets heavily involved then it would be great.

Is India seen abroad as a good cricketing nation or as a sporting nation as well?
I think each sport just has to try harder. India generally hasn’t done that well in sports, especially given our population. As you make a mark in more and more sports, the rest of the world will also notice.

Do you think we’ll benefit from hosting the events like Asian games and CWG? Or do you think we should be concentrating on the development of sports persons?
Well I think they both go hand in hand. Clearly I would like to see such things in India but I think it goes hand in hand. You help the players and you organise the tournaments, your players do well in the tournament and it works well like that.

So do you think India should host the Olympics as well?
I don’t know. If you ask me how it is better to go about it, I don’t know. But definitely hosting the Olympics will make a big impact, if we can.

Personally as a world champion, do you think you have got enough respect in India?
My job is to play my game well and that’s what I do.

No complaints?
I mean I just focus on playing well.

Post you becoming the world champion, do you think the government and the private sector have motivated you in doing this?
Well, I think the motivation comes from within. I am grateful to my family. But I think the motivation really comes from within.