Govt to set up 100 Chess training centres across Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Dana Reizniece Ozola, Woman Grand Master and Deputy Chair of FIDE (International Chess Federation) Management Board, today met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here and held discussions regarding promotion of chess in the state.

Ozola, a former Minister of Finance & Economics in Republic of Latvia, commended the state’s initiatives in nurturing young chess talents.

Both Patnaik and Ozola emphasized the need to popularize chess as a mind-sport and its immense potential to empower the youth intellectually and emotionally.

Glad to meet Ms. Dana Reizniece Ozola, Deputy Chairperson of @FIDE_chess Management Board. Had a fruitful discussion to promote chess across the state and thanked her for the appreciation for #Odisha’s initiatives in nurturing young chess talent. #OdishaForSports pic.twitter.com/yQXYlzQcjx

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) October 25, 2023

The meeting highlighted the importance of identifying and supporting young chess prodigies and providing them with the right infrastructure and training to excel on the national and international stages.

“We are committed to providing the best opportunities for our youth and chess is a powerful avenue for their growth. We have established the state level chess academy – Pro-Chess-Ta, Chess in Schools project, while plans are afoot to set up at least 100 Chess training centres across Odisha. We look forward to working closely with FIDE to achieve our goals,” said the Chief Minister.

Ozola, known for her unwavering support for the global chess community, expressed her appreciation for Odisha’s relentless efforts in fostering the growth of sports among its youth.