Anand bats for chess’ inclusion in 2020 Olympics

Tania Sachdev and Vidit Gujarati, India’s other top Chess players, echoed Viswanathan Anand's views while the All India Chess Federations's secretary also called for more recognition for the sport.

Published : Sep 20, 2018 22:48 IST

Vishwanathan Anand spoke in favour Chess' inclusion in the Olympics on the eve of the Indian team’s departure for the Chess Olympiad.
Vishwanathan Anand spoke in favour Chess' inclusion in the Olympics on the eve of the Indian team’s departure for the Chess Olympiad.
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Vishwanathan Anand spoke in favour Chess' inclusion in the Olympics on the eve of the Indian team’s departure for the Chess Olympiad.

Chess legend Viswanathan Anand said that it will be ‘great’ if Chess is included in the Olympic programme for the 2020 Games - an application for which has been submitted and a decision is expected to come next summer.

“It will be great for the sport if that happens,” five-time world champion Anand said on the eve of the Indian team’s departure for the Chess Olympiad, to be held in Batumi, Georgia from September 23 to October 6.

The country’s other top players such as Tania Sachdev and Vidit Gujarati also felt the same.

Gujarati, in fact, felt he could not win an Arjuna award this year, despite being recommended by the All India Chess Federation, as the sport is not part of multisport events.

“I have won six medals, including gold, in Asian team events and one in Asian Championship,” Vidit said, presenting his case. The last chess player to win an Arjuna was Abhijeet Gupta in 2013.

AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan called for more recognition for the sport.

“We have sent the names of Vidit Gujarati and Lalit Babu for the Arjuna Awards. But we did not get any reason why they were not considered. We are trying our best to raise the profile of the sport. We need encouragement and support,” Chauhan said.

“Definitely it will be a great boost for the sport if it is included in the summer Olympics. But for now we are are focussed on the Olympiad, which is chess’ equivalent of the Olympic Games,” Tania said.

The chess Olympiad is a biennial event where the world’s top players represent their respective countries.

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