Advertisement

Would expect ratio of offline, online chess tournaments to change in future: Vishwanathan Anand

Vishwanathan Anand, who was held up in Germany for three months because of the Covid-19 pandemic, returned back to India. Anand took a special flight from Germany's Frankfurt under the Vande Bharat Mission and reached Bengaluru on May 29.

Speaking to India Today Consulting Editor, Rajdeep Sardesai, Anand opened up on the challenges he had to face while he was in Germany and how the coronavirus crisis has changed the landscape of online chess tournaments.

"Life (in Germany) was quite comfortable. I was fortunate in many ways that I was in a place where I have been frequently, right next to my close friends. In a town where I have often been there. The only problem was that I could not travel. I was cut off from my family and I simply could not return," Vishwanathan Anand told India Today Consulting Editor, Rajdeep Sardesai.

"Quite a lot of chess players isolate themselves to prepare for tournaments. They can often spend a good part of their day not meeting anyone. But at the same time, we always have the option to go and meet someone.

"Most of the day the lockdown didn't make much difference as we could already interact with each other online. In fact seems the chess world was preparing for some kind of pandemic. So we have been more fortunate than most as our profession was not disrupted heavily. Chess is very social as we all meet each other in tournaments.

"Chess is already being played online but not in the form of organized tournaments. It was casual practice games, training sessions have already moved online. However, when I play in a tournament, for me there are certain queues. I would expect the ratio of offline, online chess tournaments to change in future," Anand added.

Read More

VIDEOS FROM OTHER SECTIONS

LATEST VIDEOS

Unidentified speaker: 'Voters Want Good Governance And Development'

In this address, the unidentified speaker highlights the growing public trust in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) across India, citing recent electoral successes in Bihar, Maharashtra, and Kerala. The speaker notes that for the first time, a record majority was given to the BJP in Mumbai, and the party has secured the mayoral position in Thiruvananthapuram. 'Today, the voters of the country want good governance, want development,' the speaker stated, emphasizing that the public is rejecting the 'negative politics' of the Congress party. The transcript further details the speaker's visit to Kaziranga National Park, describing it as the 'soul of Assam' and a 'priceless jewel of India's biodiversity.' The speaker references the words of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika to illustrate the beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The programme underscores the responsibility of protecting the environment for future generations while launching new projects aimed at long-term impact in the region.

Assam: Speaker Praises Bodo Traditions And Development In Nagaon Address

In this address from Nagaon, Assam, the speaker emphasizes the blend of 'vikas' (development) and 'virasat' (heritage) as a core mantra for the region. The speaker notes, 'Assam ke humare kalakaron ne waqar kamal kar diya' (Our artists of Assam have done wonders), while praising the Bodo traditional dance and the efforts of social media influencers in promoting local culture. The speech highlights significant infrastructure milestones, including the expansion of the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati and the foundation stone laying for an ammonia-urea complex. Furthermore, the speaker reflects on the historical significance of Kaliabor as the gateway to Kaziranga National Park and its strategic importance during the era of Ahom rule. The address underscores the strategic role of the region in connectivity and the historical bravery of Lachit Borphukan against Mughal attacks, framing the area as a growing hub for modern development and national pride.

Phool Singh Baraiya: Congress MLA Slams Women With Misogynistic 'Distraction' Remark

This report highlights the controversial and misogynistic remarks made by Phool Singh Baraiya, a Congress MLA from Madhya Pradesh. The MLA claimed that 'pretty women can distract men, which can lead to their rape,' and further attempted to justify his stance by linking these views to religious texts. The comments have sparked a massive political row, with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan strongly slamming the legislator and demanding immediate action. The incident is particularly noted for occurring in front of a poster of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Despite the outrage, Baraiya was later seen with Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Indore. The report questions whether the Congress leadership will take disciplinary action against the MLA to set a precedent, especially as the party campaigns for the rights of the backward classes. The segment underscores the lack of justification for such statements from a public representative.

advertisement

D.K. Shivakumar Skips Davos For Delhi Meet; BJP Slams Karnataka Government Over 'Power Greed'

This news bulletin focuses on Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's decision to skip the World Economic Forum in Davos to meet the Congress high command in Delhi. The move has triggered fresh speculation regarding a leadership change within the state government. A BJP spokesperson, G.S. Prashant, criticised the move, stating, 'What D.P. Shivakumar and Shidram I have done for the last two and a half years, they have mortgaged the interests of the people of Karnataka at the feet of the Gandhi family.' The discussion highlights concerns that internal party politics are being prioritised over seeking global investments for the state. The report also mentions that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other top officials have previously skipped the Davos event, leaving representation to Large-Scale Industries Minister M.B. Patil. The opposition alleges that the Congress leadership is more focused on power struggles than governance, infrastructure, and the welfare of the people of Karnataka.