Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 22: Ajatshatru Singh, senior BJP leader and former Minister along with Mayor Jammu, Chander Mohan Gupta, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay, JMC Commissioner Rahul Yadav and Ranvijay Singh, son of Ajatshatru Singh today flagged off the ‘Chess Olympiad Torch Relay’ for Himachal Pradesh, here today.
It is pertinent to mention here that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had handed over the Chess Olympiad Torch to Chess Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay the other day at SKICC. This is the first ever Chess Olympiad torch which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19th June from Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi and is scheduled to travel to 75 cities in 40 days before it culminates at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu for the 44th Chess Olympiad.
Briefing media persons here today, Ajatshatru Singh, while asserting that India has achieved new heights in sports during the BJP regime, said that it is a matter of pride for the people of Jammu and Kashmir that this Union Territory is hosting the first-ever Chess Olympiad Torch. We welcome the Torch in Jammu and flag it off with all the best wishes for the next destination of its journey to Himachal Pradesh, he added.
The senior BJP leader stated that sports has received a big boost in Jammu and Kashmir especially post Article 370 abrogation for which full credit goes to the BJP Government at the Centre led by the PM Narendra Modi. He said that earlier there was no roadmap for sports sector with the state of affairs in sports being in total disarray. He said that due to the hectic efforts of the Lt Governor a full-fledged ‘Sports Policy’ has been brought in J&K Union Territory which has changed the sports scenario towards unprecedented betterment.
Mayor Chander Mohan Gupta said that sports and academics are equally significant for overall personality development of every individual. He appealed to the youth of J&K to make sports part of their routine along with academics so that the nation is ensured a healthy citizenry.
Ranvijay Singh expressed the hope that this torch will enlighten the path of the youth especially those participating directly or indirectly in the scheduled Chess Olympiad.
Wishing the torch relay success, Ranvijay Singh emphasized that the Relay as well as the Olympiad will bring people together to promote values of good sportsmanship, teamwork, peace, harmony and brotherhood which is the dire need of today.
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