The secret of Anand’s success

The woman behind the master
Shubha Shetty-Saha
Sunday, April 06, 2008 17:30 IST

Aruna Vishwanathan plays many roles in hubby and chess maestro Vishwanathan Anand’s life, apart from being a dutiful wife
She gave up a job in advertising to help her sportsman husband, chess grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, build his career. “Since chess is a very tough sport and takes up a lot of his mental energy, I just try to make things easier for him. I handle his correspondence and logistics. Since time is at a premium, I ensure he enjoys his free time and also relaxes,” says Aruna Vishwanathan.

Aruna says after her marriage it was a natural progression for her to take care of her husband’s work. “As he played more and more tournaments, the stakes kept getting higher. He needed to give his 100 percent to his game. It was practical that we share the work. So I travel with him too, as we both enjoy travelling,” she says.

As a sportsman’s spouse, you get affected by his victory and defeat, perhaps even more than him.

“When the going gets tough, you have to learn to let go and not put your feelings first. When Anand has had a tough tournament he always tells me, ‘It must have been really tough for you.’ I think it is these moments that bring two people together.” However, there is one thing that Aruna could do without, “The tension!” she says.

Even though she independently handles his work, she needs to consult him for everything. She says, “From the colour of the walls to more important matters, we discuss everything. Even when he is playing, I make a list of things we need to talk about when he is free.

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