PM launches historic torch relay for 44th Chess Olympiad

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched the historic torch relay for the 44th Chess Olympiad today at Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich handed over the torch to the Prime Minister, who in turn handed it over to Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand. This torch will be taken to 75 cities in a span of 40 days before the final culmination at Mahabalipuram near Chennai. At every location, chess grandmasters of the state will receive the torch. Prime Minister Modi also made the Khelo Chess Ceremonial move followed by Ms Koneru Humpy making a move. Union Ministers Shri Anurag Singh Thakur and Shri Nisith Pramanik, Chess players and enthusiasts, Ambassadors, Chess Officials were among those present on the occasion.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich thanked the Government of India for taking the initiative in the start of the new tradition of torch relay which will popularise and galvanise the game all over the world. “FIDE is grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his presence and honouring us” he said and recalled the Prime Minister’s speech on the occasion of most players playing chess in one place in 2010 on the significance of the game of Chess in building new capabilities and role of combination of education and sports in leading to success. The FIDE President hoped that Chess would become part of all schools across India and all over the world. He said “India today is the fastest growing Chess country today and you have all grounds to be proud of that. We are grateful for your leadership for all the fantastic work that you are doing in the interest of Chess.”

Addressing the gathering the Prime Minister said “Today the first torch relay for Chess Olympiad games is starting from India. For the first time, this year, India is also going to host Chess Olympiad games. We are proud that a sport, starting from its birthplace and leaving its mark all over the world, has become a passion for many countries.” He continued “Centuries ago, the torch of this sport went to the whole world in the form of Chaturanga from India. Today the first Olympiad torch of chess is also coming out of India. Today, when India is celebrating its 75th year of independence, Amrit Mahotsav, this Chess Olympiad torch will also go to 75 cities of the country.” He said “FIDE has decided that the torch relay for each Chess Olympiad game will start from India itself. This honour is not only the honour of India, but also the honour of this glorious heritage of chess. I congratulate FIDE and all its members for this”

The Prime Minister dwelled on the India heritage in Chess. He said “our ancestors invented games like Chaturanga or Chess for analytical and problem solving brains. Chess, via India, reached many countries of the world and became very popular. Today, chess is being used in schools as an education tool for young people, for children.” He noted that in recent years, India is consistently improving its performance in Chess. This year, India’s contingent in the Chess Olympiad is the biggest so far. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that India will create a new record of medals this year.

The Prime Minister talked about many lessons that Chess gives us in our lives. Underlining the need for right support for everyone irrespective of their place in life, the Prime Minister said “Just like every piece of chess has its own unique strength and a unique ability. If you make the right move with a piece and use its power properly, then it becomes the most powerful. This specialty of Chessboard gives us the big message of life. If given the right support and the right environment, no goal is impossible even for the weakest.”

Highlighting another lesson from Chess, the Prime Minister said “Another great feature of the game of chess is farsightedness. Chess tells us that real success comes from far-sighted rather than short-term success.” The Prime Minister pointed out that this lesson informs India’s sports policy and schemes like Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS) which have started yielding results.

Referring to India’s recent successes in Tokyo Olympics, Paralympics, Thomas Cup and boxing the Prime Minister said “There is no dearth of talent in our country. There is no dearth of courage, dedication and strength among the youth of the country. Earlier these youths of ours had to wait for the right platform. Today, under the 'Khelo India' campaign, the country is searching and shaping these talents.” Sports talent is emerging from far flung areas of the country under Khelo India and modern sporting infrastructure is being created in different towns and districts of the country. He also pointed out that sports has been treated as other academic subjects under New Education Policy. He said that many new dimensions of sports like physio, sports science are coming to the fore and many sports universities are being opened in the country.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the pressure of expectations on the player and advised them to give their hundred percent with zero percent tension or pressure. He said that the country sees your hardwork and dedication. As much victory is part of the game, preparing to win again is also part of the game. Referring to the cost of one wrong move in Chess the Prime Minister said if the game can go by one mistake, one can retrieve the situation by the use of brain power, therefore staying calm is of utmost importance. He suggested that Yoga and Meditation can help in this a great deal. He appealed for making Yoga part of daily life and for enthusiastic participation in upcoming International Yoga Day.

This year, for the very first time, the International Chess Body, FIDE, has instituted the Chess Olympiad Torch that is part of Olympic tradition, but was never done in the Chess Olympiad. India will be the first-ever country to have the Chess Olympiad Torch Relay. Notably, taking the Indian roots of Chess to a greater height, this tradition of Torch Relay for the Chess Olympiad will henceforth always begin in India and travel across all continents before reaching the host country.

The 44th Chess Olympiad will be held in Chennai from July 28 to August 10, 2022. The prestigious competition, which has been organised since 1927, is being hosted in India for the first time and in Asia after 30 years. With 189 countries participating, this will be the largest participation in any Chess Olympiad.

आज Chess Olympiad games के लिए पहली टॉर्च रिले भारत से शुरू हो रही है।

इस साल पहली बार भारत Chess Olympiad games को host भी करने जा रहा है।

हमें गर्व है कि एक Sports, अपने जन्मस्थान से निकलकर पूरी दुनिया में अपनी छाप छोड़ रहा है, अनेक देशों के लिए एक passion बन गया है: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022

भारत से सदियों पहले चतुरंग के रूप में इस स्पोर्ट्स की मशाल पूरी दुनिया में गई थी।

आज शतरंज की पहली Olympiad मशाल भी भारत से निकल रही है।

आज जब भारत अपनी आजादी के 75वें वर्ष का पर्व, अमृत महोत्सव मना रहा है, तो ये चेस ओलंपियाड मशाल भी देश के 75 शहरों में जाएगी: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022

FIDE ने ये भी तय किया है कि प्रत्येक Chess Olympiad games के लिए torch relay भारत से ही शुरू हुआ करेगी।

ये सम्मान न केवल भारत का सम्मान है, बल्कि शतरंज की इस गौरवशाली विरासत का भी सम्मान है।

मैं इसके लिए FIDE और इसके सभी सदस्यों का अभिनंदन करता हूँ: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022

Analytical और problem solving brains के लिए हमारे पूर्वजों ने चतुरंग या शतरंज जैसे खेलों का आविष्कार किया।

भारत से होते हुए शतरंज,दुनिया के अनेक देशों तक पहुंचा और खूब लोकप्रिय हुआ।

आज स्कूलों में चेस युवाओं के लिए, बच्चों के लिए एक एजुकेशन टूल के रूप में इस्तेमाल हो रहा है: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022

चेसबोर्ड की यही खासियत हमें जीवन का बड़ा संदेश देती है।

सही सपोर्ट और सही माहौल दिया जाए तो कमजोर से कमजोर के लिए भी कोई लक्ष्य असंभव नहीं होता: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022

जैसे शतरंज के हर मोहरे की अपनी यूनिक ताकत होती है, उसकी यूनिक क्षमता होती है।

अगर आपने एक मोहरे को लेकर सही चाल चल दी, उसकी ताकत का सही इस्तेमाल कर लिया तो वो सबसे शक्तिशाली बन जाता है: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022

अगर मैं आज भारत की स्पोर्ट्स पॉलिसी की बात करूं तो खेल के क्षेत्र में TOPS यानी टारगेट ओलंपिक पोडियम स्कीम और खेलो इंडिया जैसी योजनाएं इसी सोच के साथ काम कर रही हैं।

और इसके नतीजे भी हम लगातार देख रहे हैं: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022

शतरंज के खेल की एक और बड़ी खासियत होती है- दूरदृष्टि।

शतरंज हमें बताता है कि शॉर्ट टर्म सक्सेस के बजाय दूर की सोच रखने वालों को ही असली कामयाबी मिलती है: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022

हमारे देश में प्रतिभाओं की कमी नहीं है।

देश के युवाओं में साहस, समर्पण और सामर्थ्य की कमी नहीं है।

पहले हमारे इन युवाओं को सही प्लेटफ़ार्म के लिए इंतज़ार करना पड़ता था।

आज ‘खेलो इंडिया’ अभियान के तहत देश इन प्रतिभाओं को खुद तलाश भी रहा है, तराश भी रहा है: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 19, 2022

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