December 18, 2025 01:37 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka shuts down early amid rising security concerns | Market update: Sensex tumbles 120 points, Nifty below 25,850 at closing bell | ‘Won’t apologise’: Prithviraj Chavan stands firm on controversial Operation Sindoor remark despite backlash | India summons Bangladesh High Commissioner after provocative 'seven sisters' remark | Amazon eyes $10 billion investment in OpenAI — a gamechanger for AI industry! | Goa nightclub fire horror: Luthra brothers brought back to India from Thailand, arrested | Messi chaos costs minister his job: Aroop Biswas resigns after Salt Lake Stadium fiasco | Bengal SIR draft list out: Around 58 lakh voters’ names dropped | Relief for Sonia, Rahul Gandhi as Delhi court refuses to act on ED chargesheet in National Herald case | Centre moves to replace MGNREGA with 'G Ram G', sets stage for winter session showdown
44th Chess Olympiad
Image Credit: BJP4India Twitter

'In sports, there are no losers': PM Modi inaugurates 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai

| @indiablooms | Jul 29, 2022, at 02:40 am

Chennai/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 44th Chess Olympiad at JLN Indoor Stadium in Chennai Thursday.

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur were also present on occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed all the players and chess lovers from all over the world to India.

He noted the significance of the time of the event as it falls during the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. He said that the most prestigious tournament in chess has come to India, the home of chess.

The Prime Minister noted that the 44th Chess Olympiad has been a tournament of many firsts and records.

"This is the first time the Chess Olympiad is being held in the place of origin of chess, India. It is coming to Asia for the first time in 3 decades. It has the highest ever number of countries participating. It has the highest ever number of teams participating. It has the highest number of entries in the women’s section. The first ever Torch Relay of the Chess Olympiad started this time," he said.

The Prime Minister highlighted that Tamil Nadu has a strong historical connection with chess.

"This is why it is a chess powerhouse for India. It has produced many of India’s chess grandmasters. It is home to the finest minds, vibrant culture, and the oldest language in the world, Tamil," he said.

PM Modi pointed out that there has never been a better time for sports in India than the present.

“India had its best-ever performances in the Olympics, Paralympics and Deaflympics. We achieved glory even in sports where we had not won earlier," he said.

He added that India’s sporting culture is becoming stronger due to the perfect mix of two important factors. The energy of youth and the enabling environment.

The Prime Minister remarked that in sports, there are no losers. "There are winners and there are future winners," he said.

He wished all the teams and players success in the 44th Chess Olympiad.

The 44th Chess Olympiad is being held in Chennai from July 28 to August 9,2. The prestigious competition, which has been organised since 1927, is being hosted in India for the first time and in Asia after 30 years.

With 187 countries participating, this will be the largest participation in any Chess Olympiad. India is also fielding its biggest contingent.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.