Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that it is a proud moment for India as it is hosting an international sport event like Chess Olympiad. He reminded that chess was originated from India and was known as Chaturang.

The Chief Minister said that Odisha has been producing good results in chess. “Some of our players have done exceedingly well at national and international events. We have also organised the World Junior Chess championship in 2016. We intend to further strengthen the game across the state especially in Schools.

This is a game which can be easily be spread as not much infrastructure or equipment is required. We will create competitions at school and college levels regularly and promote the game in a professional manner,” he said expressing his vision for chess promotion.

Extending his best wishes to the All India Chess Federation (AICF), AOCA, Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu for organising this grand event, the CM said that probably for the first time in India representatives from around 200 countries will participate in a sports event.

The Chief Minister said that India has produced some of the best chess players in the world. This mega event will further promote the game and create future champions, he added. He wished good luck to the Indian contingent which is taking part in this Olympiad and hoped victory for the host country.

AICF Joint Secretary Ranjan Mohanty offered the vote of thanks. Odisha State Sports Secretary R Vineel Krishna was present on the occasion. Torch relay was later taken to heritage sites in Puri and Konark. Padmini Rout carried the torch to Puri and handed it over to IM Swayangshu Satyapragyan.

Satyapragyan took the relay torch to Konark and handed it over to Sports Minister Behera, who delivered it to IM Anwesh Upadhyaya. After completing the Odisha journey in Bhubaneswar the relay torch left for Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

The relay torch was first received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi on June 19 and he handed it over to Grand Master Viswanathan Anand. The Relay Torch will be carried to 75 iconic places of India.

The Chess Olympiad will take place at Mahabalipuram, near Chennai in Tamil Nadu from July 28 to August 10. IM Padmini Rout is the only player from Odisha who has qualified to represent India in this Olympiad.
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TOP: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik receives the Chess Olympiad Relay Torch from Dr Achyuta Samanta and hands it over to IM Padmini Rout in Bhubaneswar on 15 July 2022.
RIGHT: Odisha WGM Kiran Manisha Mohanty with the Chess Olympiad Relay Torch in Bhubaneswar on 15 July 2022.