45th Chess Olympiad Held in Hungary Three Players from Tamil Nadu Honored

Chennai : Hon’ble Tamil Nadu Minister of Sports, Mr. M.Y. Xylene, today announced the recognition and reward for the Tamil Nadu chess grandmasters who participated in the 45th Chess Olympiad held in Hungary this month. The grandmasters, Mr. Gukesh, Mr. Praggnanandhaa, and Ms. Vaishali, along with their coach, Mr. Srinath Narayanan, were honored for their outstanding performance.

The Tamil Nadu government has offered incentives of up to Rs. 90 lakh to the players for their achievements in international competitions. The minister emphasized that Tamil Nadu has become one of India’s top-performing states in sports development, particularly in chess. The government is committed to continuing this success with a high level of support and incentives for promising athletes.

Additionally, the Tamil Nadu government is focused on raising awareness of environmental issues through sports and student engagement programs. Tamil Nadu has emerged as a leading state in promoting sports initiatives across the country.

The 44th Chess Olympiad, held last year in the historic town of Mamallapuram from 28 July to 10 August 2022, saw participation from over 2000 athletes representing 185 countries. It was a moment of great pride for the state, with Tamil Nadu hosting the event with remarkable success.

The 45th Chess Olympiad, held in Hungary this year, once again brought Tamil Nadu players into the spotlight. Grandmasters Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Vaishali displayed exceptional skill, contributing to India’s reputation on the global stage. Coach Srinath Narayanan was also recognized for his efforts in leading the team to success.

On this occasion, Hon’ble Sports Minister Mr. Udhayanidhi Stalin and other officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Atulya Misra and other senior members of the Sports Department, were present to congratulate the players. The Tamil Nadu government continues to support chess players and aims to nurture future talent through various initiatives.