Patna: On the occasion of World Chess Day, the Bihar School of Chess was formally inaugurated by Bihar Art, Culture, and Youth Department Minister Jitendra Kumar Rai at Patliputra Sports Complex here on Thursday.
On this occasion, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Bihar State Sports Authority Raveendran Sankaran, Vice President of Asian Chess Federation Bharat Singh Chauhan, Arjuna Award winner and Chairman of the Coaches Commission of All India Chess Federation (AICF), Grand Master Praveen Thipsay, President of All Bihar Chess Association Diljit Khanna and Secretary Dharmendra Kumar were present as guests of honour.
Addressing the gathering, Jitendra Kumar Rai said that the start of the Bihar School of Chess in Bihar is a matter of great joy and pride for Bihar. The government is committed to the all-round development of every sport and sportsperson in Bihar and is making continuous efforts in this direction. The government is making every possible effort for the development of the game of chess so that children can take an interest in it and play it at the village level.
Ravindran Sankaran said that under the joint aegis of the Bihar State Sports Authority and the All Bihar Chess Association, the Bihar School of Chess is being started for the talented chess players and chess lovers of Bihar at Patliputra Sports Complex. Here, various chess competitions will be organised from time to time, along with training in chess for talented youth, including schoolchildren of young age. The game of chess sharpens the mind of the children and inculcates a sense of discipline in them, therefore, for the development of this game in Bihar, the game of chess should be included in the curriculum at the school level, he said.
He said that Bharat Singh Chauhan, Vice President of the Asian Chess Federation, has a special love for Bihar. Today, on the occasion of World Chess Day, he had many programmes across the country, but because of his love for Bihar, he chose to come to Bihar today, which is a matter of great pleasure for all of us. He has also accepted our request to organise a big chess competition in Bihar. In January 2024, the National School Championship of Chess will now be held in Bihar, in which 2000 children from all over the country will participate, which is a matter of pride for all of us, he said.
Singh Chouhan said that there are many talented chess players in Bihar as well. This game is very popular in Tamil Nadu, which is why most of the big players emerging from there see the game of chess as adding to the prestige of their state. If such a spirit is developed among the players of Bihar as well, national and international level chess grandmasters will emerge from here as well, which I am sure because there is no dearth of talent here, he said.
Praveen Thipsay said the parents should not put much pressure on the children. They should be allowed to play the game according to their interest and ability by taking independent decisions, only then will they develop the spirit and ability of the game. This game develops concentration and the ability to make the right decisions in children, he said.
The minister formally launched the Open Blitz Chess Tournament 2023 for kids by playing chess with the invited distinguished guests. The children who came first, second, and third in this competition were given certificates along with trophies, and all the participants were also given certificates.