44^TH CHESS OLYMPIAD AND SPORTS CONDITION IN INDIA

 44th Chess Olympiad at JLN Indoor Stadium, Chennai was declared by the Prime Minister.

About 44th Chess Olympiad

• This is the first time that the Chess Olympiad is being held in the place of origin of chess that is in India.
• It is coming to Asia for the first time in the last 3 decades.
• Even it has the highest ever number of countries participating in this session of chess Olympiad.
• It has the highest ever number of teams participating.
• It has the highest number of entries in the women’s category.
• The first ever Torch Relay of the Chess Olympiad started this time.

Tamil Nadu has a strong historical connection with chess and this is why Tamil Nadu is known as the chess powerhouse of India.

• It has produced many of India’s chess grandmasters.
• It is home to the finest minds, vibrant culture and the oldest language in the world, Tamil.

Importance of Sports

• Sports improve a person’s physical fitness and give him high strength and proper physique.
• It also helps us to develop a positive frame of mind and a multi-faceted outlook toward life.
• It helps in achieving all-around development with a good competitive spirit and leadership qualities.
• Sports and academic life -Sports, education, and health share an elemental link, and together they contribute significantly to the overall development of a child.
• A good sports culture is an index to measure a nation’s growth and progress even the medals and trophies earned by players at globally recognized sporting events bring glory and honour to the country.
• A child needs to engage in sports as it offers holistic development and positive personality traits even a school is a place that helps children to discover their interests, inclination, and their strengths.

Challenges

• Lack of Infrastructural support. This acts as a demotivation when the players are not able to get the adequate required sports equipment within their reach. Most of the players are from poor backgrounds and can‘t afford it themselves.
• Lack of moral or emotional support: There is a lack of psychological counsellors to promote the well-being of players.
• Lack of motivation: The government has made sports and physical education mandatory in the curriculum but it lacks the required motivation and drive from the administrators.
• Negative Morale attached to it: A sport is never the priority for a majority of Indian parents and even their kids. They go by the adage “padhoge likhoge banoge nawab, kheloge kudoge banoge kharab”, also shown in the biopic movie of MS Dhoni.
• Lack of recognition of sports other than cricket: Cricket continues to dominate India's sporting landscape. Sports other than cricket are not given much importance as a career option, because they appear neither financially lucrative nor glamorous.

Government initiative to promote sports:

• The Indian Government recognized the importance of sports and formed the National Sports Policy in 1984 which aims to make sports and physical education an essential part of the academic curriculum.
• The revised National Sports Policy, 2011, advocates the importance of sports and physical education in developing better individuals, enhancing productivity, and bringing social harmony.
• Fit India Movement: Fit India Movement is a nationwide movement in India to encourage people to remain healthy and fit by including physical activities and sports in their day-to-day lives.
• Sports Talent Search Portal: This portal allows the youngsters to upload their achievements. Those who get shortlisted are then called for trials and the qualified candidates then take part in the schemes of the Sports Authority of India.
• National Sports Awards Scheme: The Government acknowledges and respects the sports personalities with the Arjuna Awards, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dhyan Chand Awards, and Dronacharya Awards for their achievements and commitments as sportspersons and coaches in the field of sports.
• Target Olympic Podium Scheme: It is under the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) to help the potential medal possibilities for the Olympic Games of 2016 and 2020. The main centre is given for Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Archery, Wrestling, and Shooting sports.
• COME and PLAY Scheme: The Come & Play Scheme was initiated for optimum utilization of SAI sports facilities in Delhi and across the country which is primarily focused on encouraging the local sportspersons in areas where SAI sports facilities/Centres are operational. While providing youth from local communities and sports enthusiasts with an opportunity to train under SAI coaches.
• Khelo India Scheme:  Khelo India Scheme was initiated in 2016 post the fusion of three earlier schemes that is Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS), and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS). This scheme focused on increasing the mass participation of youth in annual sports games and competitions.
• Recently Government also initiated National AIR Sports Policy 2022.

Way forward

The best way to develop sports must start from the grass root level that is the school. It must be compulsory for the children to actively participate in a sports activity with full support from the parents and teacher.

The focus must be given to the development of all the sports not the particular sports like cricket with better facilities and the government should increase the funding for all the various sports.

“A healthy mind resides in the healthy body” the overall development of sports will also contribute to the development of the economy by creating a healthy and sound workforce.