Ranchi, Jharkhand |:July | 07, 2022 :: Finally, the long awaited moment to cherish for the citizens of Jharkhand, especially, the Chess fraternity ended when the sacred torch dedicated to the Chess Olympiad, reached Ranchi today, the historic day 7th July 2022. To mark the occasion and to celebrate the first ever Chess Olympiad the 44th edition on Indian soil as well as 75th year of independence, SAI, along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India and AICF in coordination with Government of Jharkhand has arranged a fabulous program in the Harivansh Tana Baghat Indoor stadium, Khelgon, Ranchi. The event started with a Simultaneous display on 16 boards by Grandmasters Saptarshi Roy Choudhury.
Shri Pradip Verma welcomed the Chief Guest Shri Hafizul Hasan Ansari, Hon’ble Minister, Tourism, Art Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs Department, Jharkhand and Shri. Zeeshan Qamer, Director, Sports and Youth Affairs, Jharkhand by presenting a flower bouquet to them. Grand Master Saptarshi Roy Choudhury handed over the sacred torch to the Chief Guest and the National Anthem was sung. A brief cultural program was presented by a group in which “Paika” folk dance was performed by the team of Shri. Ashok Kacchap. After the speech by Chief Guest the sacred torch was handed over to the lone International Master of Jharkhand and Bihar region Neeraj Kumar Mishra to carry it forward to next destination Kolkata.
The dignitaries present off the dais were Navjot Alang Secretary RDCA, Satish Kumar treasure RDCA Dharmendra Dikshit, Dy. Director (Sports), Jharkhand, Ms. Honey Sinha, State Director, NYKS, Mr. Ram Kumar, Addl. Director, SAI, Mr. Brajesh Kumar, State Co-Ordinator, NSS, Ranchi University, and other officials of Chess outfits in State.
A felicitation was arranged for the top six players who got selected from a tournament conducted for under-15 School Children last month. These players, Aditi Raj of Ranchi, Saara Jain, Adhiraj Mitra, Kumar Sankalp all from East Singhbhum and from West Singhbhum Amit Kumar Singh and Kanishka Mukhi, will be in Mahabalipuram to witness the great players in action from 28th to 31st July 2022.
