Where have the ladies gone?

If not for the participation of WGM Krutika Nadig of India, the 4th PGMA Cup Championships, both Open and Challenge, would have been an all-male event.

I used to see a lot of female participants in the past stagings of PGMA Cup. But now, they're almost gone.

Imagine, not one female player joined this year's PGMA Cup Challenge.

Thanks to WGM Krutika, there's one rose - who's beautiful indeed - among the thorns.

I was expecting to see some girls, if not ladies, in the Challenge section. Not one was there.

Perhaps they're no longer interested to get exposure, experience, and training in such a competitive field.

Could economics be the reason? I don't know.

Or they don't want to be approached by veteran vulture players who sell games in exchange of points?

How about the four Vietnam-bound ladies (WFM Catherine Pereña, WFM Shercila Cua, WIM Cristine Mariano, and WIM Beverly Mendoza) to have seen actions in the Open section as a preparation for their stint in the upcoming Asian Indoor Games this November?

Not one of them was there.

At least, the NCFP should have required them to participate - and answered for the cost - to prepare them for the Vietnam war.

Yes, I saw ladies there but not as players but rather as fiancees/companions/friends (whatever) of male players.

Knock, knock!! Where have the ladies gone?

(IN PHOTO: Some foreign female participants of last year's PGMA Cup Open giggling over the post-tame analysis being done by GM Wesley So.)