Pakistan pulls out of Chess Olympiad

/PTI

New delhi, July 28

Pakistan on Thursday pulled out of the Chess Olympiad being held in Tamil Nadu, prompting India to hit out at the neighbouring country for “politicising” the sporting event.

30 players

• 187 nations participating
• Largest participation in any Chess Olympiad
• India fielding its biggest contingent comprising 30 players representing six teams

Sporting culture growing stronger

India’s sporting culture is becoming stronger due to the perfect mix of two important factors — the energy of youth and enabling environment. Narendra Modi, PM

Hours after Pakistan announced its withdrawal over the Olympiad’s torch relay passing through Jammu and Kashmir, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it was “highly unfortunate” that Pakistan had “politicised” the prestigious international event.

Bagchi asserted that the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “have been, are, and will remain an integral part of India”.

Pakistan was invited by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to participate in the 44th Chess Olympiad being held in Mamallapuram near Chennai from July 28 to August 10.

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry announced its decision to boycott the Olympiad. “Pakistan condemns India’s mischievous attempt to mix politics with sports. As a protest, Pakistan has decided not to participate in the event and will also raise the matter with the International Chess Federation at the highest level,” it said in a statement.

At Chennai’s JLN Indoor Stadium, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared open the Chess Olympiad in the presence of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, Chief Minister MK Stalin, Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, L Murugan, president of the International Chess Federation, and Arkady Dvorkovich.

Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister welcomed all players and chess lovers from across the world to India. Noting that the Olympiad was being held when India was celebrating 75 years of freedom, Modi said the most prestigious tournament in chess had returned to India, the home of chess, at an appropriate time.

The Prime Minister claimed that there had never been a better time for sports in India than at present. “India had its best-ever performances in the Olympics, Paralympics and Deaflympics. We achieved glory in sports event that we had not won earlier,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that the Olympiad was a tournament of many firsts. This was the first time the Chess Olympiad was being held in India. It was coming to Asia for the first time in three decades.