Chess Olympiad torch reached Chhattisgarh, sports federations, players, children and public representatives, including Chief Minister and Sports Minister, gave a warm welcome
The Chief Minister held the torch from the hands of Grand Master Praveen Thipsay, also played chess,
the 61st stop of the torch passing through 75 cities of the country was Raipur, state’s chess player Ms. Kiran Agarwal will be taken to 
On Hyderabadreaching Raipur today, the torch of 44th Chess Olympiad being organized in India was warmly welcomed by many sports associations, sportspersons, school children and public representatives including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Umesh Patel. Arjuna Awardee Grand Master Shri Praveen Thipsay reached Raipur carrying this torch from Bhubaneswar. He handed over the torch to the Chief Minister. Both also played chess on stage. Chief Minister Mr. Baghel handed over this torch to the state’s chess player, Woman FIDE Master, Ms. Kiran Agarwal. Ms. Aggarwal will accompany the Secretary General of State Chess Association Mr. Vinod Rathi to Hyderabad with this. On the occasion of 75 years of India’s independence this year, the torch of Chess Olympiad is passing through 75 cities of the country, reaching Raipur today as its 61st stop. Mr. Kuldeep Juneja, President and MLA of Chhattisgarh Home Construction Board,
Welcoming and felicitating the torch of Chess Olympiad, Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel said that it is a matter of great pride that for the first time, the World Chess Federation has allowed the Chess torch relay on the lines of the Olympic torch. In future Chess Olympiad may be organized in any country, its torch will start from India itself. Addressing the welcome program organized at the Science College Auditorium, Raipur, the Chief Minister said that it is our good fortune that this time our country is hosting the Chess Olympiad. I especially congratulate the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Stalin, for providing a guarantee of Rs.75 crore and world-class infrastructure on behalf of his state to host this proud event. Tamil Nadu’s Mahabalipuram will witness the mind-boggling and check-playing skills of over 2,000 players from 188 countries. 
The Chief Minister said that the presence of Chess Olympiad Mashal in the state today would act as a great inspiration for our budding chess talents. Referring to Rajnandgaon chess player Ms. Kiran Agarwal, she said that she had participated in Olympiad twice between 1986 and 1990. This pride needs to be repeated again. Our Chhattisgarh is also participating in the Olympiad held in Tamil Nadu. Shri Alankar Bhivgade of Bhilai will play the role of judge there. Ms. Kiran Agarwal, Mr. Vinod Rathi and Mr. M.K. Chandrashekhar is part of the organizing committee there. Six players selected from different schools of the state will also participate in the Olympiad and learn by watching big players. Shri Baghel said that on the initiative of All India Chess Federation in Chhattisgarh, work has been started to promote chess in 22 schools. Balod district has become the first district in the country to start the ‘Chase in School’ pilot project. Chess training has also been started in Aastha School, Dantewada. He said that arrangements should be made to play chess in all the schools of the state so that children get help in their intellectual practice. Congratulating the players, the Chief Minister said that the new talents of Chhattisgarh should not only repeat the record of Kiran Agarwal, but also move ahead. International level players come out in large numbers from here and bring laurels to the state and country in the world. He hoped that seeing the players participating in this event, other parents would also encourage their children to take interest in chess and other sports. Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Shri Umesh Patel said in his address that the torch of the biggest sporting event in the country has reached the soil of Chhattisgarh today, which we wholeheartedly welcome and congratulate. He informed that the Chess Olympiad is being organized in Mahabalipuram from July 28 to August 10. India, the birthplace of this game, has got the responsibility of organizing it for the first time. The torch of Chess Olympiad is passing through 75 cities of the country, reaching Raipur today as its 61st stop. He expressed his gratitude to all the sports federations, sportspersons, public representatives and school children who came to welcome the torch. The President of Chhattisgarh State Chess Association, Mr. Raghavendra Singhania also addressed the program. Several departmental officers including Secretary, Sports and Youth Welfare Department Mr. Neelam Namdev Ekka and Director Mrs. Shweta Srivastava Sinha were also present in the programme.
