STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Ajatshatru Singh, senior BJP leader and former minister along with Mayor Jammu, Chander Mohan Gupta, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay, JMC Commissioner Rahul Yadav and Ranvijay Singh, son of Ajatshatru Singh on Wednesday flagged off the Chess Olympiad Torch Relay for Himachal Pradesh here on Wednesday.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had handed over the Chess Olympiad Torch to Chess Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay the other day at SKICC. This is the first ever Chess Olympiad torch which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19th June from Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi and is scheduled to travel to 75 cities in 40 days before it culminates at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu for the 44th Chess Olympiad.
Briefing media persons here today, Ajatshatru Singh, while asserting that India has achieved new heights in sports during the BJP regime, said that it is a matter of pride for the people of Jammu and Kashmir that this Union Territory is hosting the first-ever Chess Olympiad Torch. We welcome the Torch in Jammu and flag it off with all the best wishes for the next destination of its journey to Himachal Pradesh, he added.
The senior BJP leader stated that sports has received a big boost in Jammu and Kashmir especially post Article 370 abrogation for which full credit goes to the BJP Government at the Centre led by the PM Narendra Modi. He said that earlier there was no roadmap for sports sector with the state of affairs in sports being in total disarray. He said that due to the hectic efforts of the Lt Governor a full-fledged Sports Policy has been brought in J&K Union Territory which has changed the sports scenario towards unprecedented betterment.
Ajatshatru Singh said that the people especially the youth and sports aspirants are satisfied with the new sports policy and he was quite sure that it will give a better rather best direction to youth encouraging them to join sports making a career in the sports sector.
Mayor Chander Mohan Gupta said that sports and academics are equally significant for overall personality development of every individual. He appealed to the youth of J&K to make sports part of their routine along with academics so that the nation is ensured a healthy citizenry.
Ranvijay Singh expressed the hope that this torch will enlighten the path of the youth especially those participating directly or indirectly in the scheduled Chess Olympiad.
Wishing the torch relay success, Ranvijay Singh emphasized that the Relay as well as the Olympiad will bring people together to promote values of good sportsmanship, teamwork, peace, harmony and brotherhood which is the dire need of today. He asserted that the game of Chess advances creative thinking, discipline, enhances skills, and analytical ability of the players. He appealed to the J&K Sports Council to make every effort to popularize Chess amongst the youth of this Union Territory.
Hosting ‘Chess Olympiad Torch Relay’ a proud moment for entire J&K & Ladakh: Director NYKS J&K
JAMMU: The Torch Relay of 44th Chess Olympiad launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel in 75 cities for 40 days before it culminates at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu.
State Director, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Nisar Ahmad on Wednesday said that the hosting of ‘Chess Olympiad Torch Relay’ at Leh, Kashmir and Jammu is a proud moment for the entire region and NYKS J&K, Ladakh region played a pivotal role in it by making various arrangements at different venues across Leh, Srinagar and Jammu.
Nisar informed that the ‘Chess Olympiad Torch Relay’ was hosted first at Leh brought by Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua from Delhi who handed it over to LG Ladakh, R K Mathur. After Leh, the torch reached Srinagar where LG Manoj Sinha handed over the torch to the Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay, finally reached Jammu at Amar Mahal Palace, one of the iconic locations selected for this, he added.
He further informed that six youth from the J&K UT are being sent to Chennai to watch the 44th Chess Olympiad so that they will be able to take guidance from the legendary grand masters.
Nisar also thanked media, print, electronic and digital in J&K and Ladakh for playing a crucial role giving this torch relay a wide publicity.
