Back from Bonn – the hero returns

by ChessBase
11/23/2008 – After his remarkable success at the World Championship in Bonn, where he defended his title in a match against Vladimir Kramnik, Vishy Anand has returned to India and his native Chennai to a hero's welcome. The festivities have just begun, but we have first videos from the arrival, where thousands were gathered in spite of the very late hour. Anand and his wife Aruna give interviews – in Tamil. Fascinating.
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Chess icon Viswanathan Anand gets hero's welcome

Meenakshi Mahadevan / CNN-IBN

Chennai: Chess Grand master and world champion Viswanathan Anand was welcomed at Chennai International Airport after his victory in the Championship at Bonn. It was a hero's welcome in the wee hours of Friday, November 21.

It was a sportstar returning after conquering the world and for a change, it was not a cricketer that the people were going crazy over at the international airport. Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand is back home from Bonn, and he has brought home the title as the reigning World Chess Champion. "It feels great to be back. The reception has been absolutely fantastic," said Vishy, as Viswanathan Anand, the Chess Grandmaster is popularly known.

The excitement was palpable and Anand's fans, chess enthusiasts of all ages, couldn't get enough of their star. As for wife Aruna, it was yet another proud moment. "The reception has been great and now we are hoping to get pampered. I'm sure all the pampering will start soon," said Aruna Anand, Viswanathan Anand's wife.

Anand could see hundreds of school kids carrying placards, a band playing non-stop music, a traditional south Indian welcome and thousands of fans screaming out his name. It was a welcome Anand will remember for a long time to come.


Watch this IBN Live video

In another video report by Chennaionline you can listen to longer statements by the World Chess Champion and by his wife and manager Aruna Anand. A minor problem is that they speak in – Tamil! It is refreshing to hear the two speak in the language of their birth (their first language is English). If you listen in you will see how many English expressions creep in, especially in Aruna's statement (game, match, energy, hard work, difficult, late night, focus, work, trainer, greatest moment...). You can almost understand her! Must watch:

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