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Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 28 (EMN): Minister for Planning and Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, who is also the president of Nagaland Chess Association (NCA), Neiba Kronu on Monday said that the state government has decided to set up one sports office complex to accommodate all sports disciplines and coordinate with national and international organisations.
He was delivering the presidential address at the inauguration of the 18th Nagaland State Chess Championship 2021 at 'The Heritage', old DC Bungalow, Kohima on Monday.
He stated that he had also raised a proposal for setting up a separate office for chess association in the state during a government meeting, which had taken the decision of setting up a sport’s office.
He maintained that the chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, who is the president of Nagaland Olympic Association, had also agreed; adding that the government was trying to identify the place.
Meanwhile, he urged the NCA to identify a ‘good- silent place’ that would enable chess lovers to come and play. He maintained that playing with fellow friends helps improve performance. He then expressed his readiness to support the cause to bring up chess players.
He encouraged the participants to give their efforts to excel in the championship and look forward to participations and excellence at national level.
The minister maintained that he was also a chess player, while adding that it is played in all parts of the world.
Kronu maintained that in Nagaland's context, Chess was just a beginner, while there were irregularities in conducting tournaments and young players were not given due opportunities. However, he added that hewas impressed by the attendance of young players on Monday.
He also remarked that during the Covid-19 pandemic, chess had become more popular as it can be played in online, while he asserted that, irrespective of chess yet to be an Olympic discipline, it was already a professional game.
Earlier in his welcome address, vice-president of NCA, Mughaho Awomi, stated that the NCA was conducting it's tournament after a gap of two years.
He added that the NCA President, Kronu was sponsoring INR 2 lakh prize money for this year's championship, which he said was the highest prize money in the history of NCA . He added that Kronu had also provided chess sets and chess clocks, which will also be distributed to the affiliated district associations.
He also highlighted that the All India Chess Federation (AICF) was targeting to train each child to make a better society and contribute in increasing the country's Gross Domestic product (GDP).
He added that AICF was also providing certified training to all the chess players and coaches to get their trainer titles and certificates, while it endeavours to introduce chess syllabus in the school curriculum.
Earlier, a song was presented by Abotoli Shohe.
In the 18th Nagaland State Chess Championship 2021, over 60 players are taking part from Kohima, Peren, Dimapur, Phek, Wokha, Zunheboto and Kiphire districts.
The championship will culminate of April 1 with participants competing in open category, under-18 category and under-14 category.