Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik on Friday received the Relay Torch for Chess Olympiad and handed it over to Padmini Rout, a celebrated chess player of the state in capital Bhubaneswar. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that it is a proud moment for India as it is hosting an international sports event like Chess Olympiad on the 75th year of independence.
Adding that chess originated from India and was known as Chaturang, the Chief Minister said that it’s probably for the first time in India that representatives from around 200 countries will be participating in any sporting event.
Acknowledging that India has produced some of the best Chess champions in the world, he hoped that the upcoming mega event will further promote the game.
As many as 6 players will take part in the Chess Olympiad to be held in Chennai. The Olympic Relay Torch was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on the 19th of June last and was handed over to GrandMaster Viswanathan Anand which is being taken to 75 iconic places including Puri and Konark in Odisha.
Comment here