Page 47 - Mann ki Baat June 2022 - English

World’s elite. When they share hoped to achieve. His attention to
the dais with our esteemed detail is something we strive for
Prime Minister, there’s a sense of in chess. His encouraging words,
collective pride as a player, as a “Give your hundred per cent with
team, and as a nation. zero per cent tension or pressure”,
will most certainly motivate the
As a sportsperson, there are certain
young participants to move
moments in your sporting career
that stand out. I am sure when forward in leaps and bounds for
the Chess Olympiad commencing
each of my team members saw
th
the torch being lit at this historic on 28 July.
launch and shared the stage with As India emerges as a sporting
great visionaries of the country, it nation, we as a country need to
will be one of the moments that will think of the importance of sports
remain with them forever. During for its citizens. Such a thought
his speech, the PM called out each process can happen only when
of our names and mentioned our the leader of the nation decides
contribution to Indian chess. The to make that shift in ideology.
Prime Minister’s encouragement Many kinds of infrastructure
and support for the game and and grants are being provided
each one of us is commendable. to sportspersons to train. The
I met our respected Prime Minister Government partners with
in 2010 when he was the Chief organizations and corporates to
Minister. We staged the Guinness help maximize talent and results.
World Record for the most number Chessplayers also do benefit from
of games played at a venue. these initiatives. I hope the staging
When we prepared for event, I met of an event such as the Chess
him a few times more. He would Olympiad will bring chess into the
know all the facts and the details home and hearth of every Indian.
that were needed to be known More of our youngsters would
and was always willing to provide feel motivated to represent their
his support for the targets we had country on the world stage.

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