SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PONDA: The Chess Olympiad Torch that went around the country on the occasion of the 44th Fide Chess Olympiad 2022 being held in Chennai, arrived in Goa was received by the Sports Minister of Goa, Govind Gaude at Kranti Maidan, Ponda on Sunday.
The torch was taken to Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Ponda where a function was held by the State Government felicitating prominent chess players from Goa.
For the first time, a Torch Relay is being conducted for the Chess Olympiad. FIDE President, Arkady Dvorkovich handed over the Torch to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, who in turn handed it over to Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand. The torch will be taken to 75 cities in 40 days before reaching Chennai, the host city.
The torch was brought to Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir in a grand welcome ceremony. The Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs felicitated Grand Master Anurag Mhamal, Women Grand Master Bhakti Kulkarni, Grand Master Leon Mendonca and International Master Amey Audi.
Other dignitaries present were; Vinay Tendulkar (MP Rajya Sabha) , Ritesh Naik (Chairperson, Ponda MMC), Susmita Jyotsy (Regional Director, SAI), Kalidas Ghatwal (Dy. Director, NYKS), Mahesh Candolkar (AICF Representative) , Dnyaneshwar Naik (Administrator, Goa Chess Association) and other officials.
Those in attendance were volunteers of NSS, NCC and NYKS and more than 200 chess players, Kerkar awardee and State Sports Association members were present for the function.
The Torch Relay will be heading to Madhya Pradesh in the hands of Grandmaster Anurag Mhamal.
