Doha: Grandmaster Koneru Humpy yesterday (Dec 4, 2006) became the toast of the nation winning the first gold medal for India at the Asian Games in women's rapid chess event here.

Humpy, ranked second in the world among women chess players, accumulated eight points in the nine-round event played in the swiss league format at the Al Dana Indoor Hall.

The 19-year-old Indian beat Dana Aketayeva of Kazakhstan in the ninth and final round to bring the laurels for the country in the sport making its debut at the multi-disciplinary event.

China's Zhao Xue was just half a point adrift of the Indian to be placed second.

India's medal tally stood at one gold, three silver and two bronze medals with Humpy's triumph in the 15-day extravaganza, touted as the world's second largest sporting event.