- NET Web Desk
The first-ever torch relay of the Chess Olympiad, which will be held in Tamil Nadu later this month, reached the Nagaland’s capital – Kohima on Monday.
Grandmaster Ankit Rajpara handed-over the torch to President of Nagaland Chess Association (NCA) – Neiba Kronu at The Heritage, Old DC Bungalow.
Prior to the ceremony, Rajpara participated in simultaneous chess with players belonging to different age-groups.
Kronu and Rajpara rallied with the Olympiad torch from The Heritage to the Ladies Mile Road and the Indoor Stadium.
Addressing the gathering, Kronu said the conduct of the 44th Chess Olympiad from July 28 to August 10 in Mahabalipuram is an opportunity to “reclaim” the game.
The torch is being taken to 75 cities across the nation in 40 days, before arriving into the host city; informed the NCA vice president – P Khezhie.
The International Chess Federation had said the Olympiad torch relay would always begin from India, where the sport originated, and would travel across all continents before reaching the host city.
The All India Chess Federation noted that, due to lack of time, the torch relay would only traverse in India this year.
Kronu emphasized that the NCA has promoted the sport in the northeastern state for the last thirty years or more by holding competitions at the district level and even in outlying locations.
