Tamil Nadu's Deputy CM Honors Chess Champions for International Achievements
Celebrating Chess Excellence in Tamil Nadu
The Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin, has expressed his congratulations to the state's chess players, including world champion D Gukesh, Aravindh Chithambaram, and R Praggnanandhaa, for their impressive performances in recent international chess tournaments held in Norway and Armenia.
In a statement released by the state government, Udhayanidhi Stalin acknowledged D. Gukesh, the current World Junior Champion and recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, for achieving third place in the Norway Chess Tournament. He also commended Aravindh Chithambaram for winning first place in the Stepan Avagyan Memorial Chess Tournament, and R Praggnanandhaa for securing the second position in the same event.
Chithambaram's victory at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial Chess Tournament has propelled him into the top 10 of the FIDE world rankings. Notably, he also clinched first place in the Masters section of the Chennai Grandmasters Tournament last year, organized by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).
Both Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa are part of the Tamil Nadu Government's Elite Scheme, which supports exceptional athletes through the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. This initiative provides an annual grant of Rs 30 lakh to sportspersons who excel in international competitions, enabling them to enhance their skills.
This financial assistance allows them to acquire high-quality sports equipment, train with world-class coaches abroad, and participate regularly in international events to showcase their talents. With three of the four Indian chess players ranked in the world top 10 originating from Tamil Nadu, their achievements in tournaments like the Norway Chess and the Stepan Avagyan Memorial underscore the significant impact of the Chief Minister's initiatives in promoting sports in the state.
The event was also attended by Atulya Misra, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, and J Meghanath Reddy, IAS, Member Secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu.