Anand wants to make chess a pan-Indian game
Mohammad Amin-ul Islam, TNN, Dec 24, 2010, 01.21am IST
NEW DELHI: Viswanathan Anand revels in both roles – a player and an ambassador of the game. Despite his hectic playing schedule, the world champion is visiting Indian cities with a motive: to make chess a pan-Indian game. At the launch of yet another NIIT Mind Champions Academy in an NCR school on Thursday, the 41-year-old spoke exclusively to TOI.
On rural India's contribution to sports....
It's definitely a good sign to see more and more players coming from rural areas. Whether it is Olympics,Asian Games or Commonwealth Games and even cricket, most of these sportspersons are making Indiaproud. I think it is a significant change in Indian sports. For me, I would like to take chess to the rural areas and make it a pan-Indian game.
In the backdrop of Tendulkar's 50th ton, do you think you got a decent media coverage after you defended your World title this year?
Sachin is a great cricketer. But I'm happy to be a chess player and the recognition that I've got from the game. I couldn't have ask for more. I am happy to promote the game in our country.
Should Sachin get the Bharat Ratna?
He (Sachin) has been doing a great job in international cricket. But I am not in the position to suggest awards. I think the main thing is do well in sports and rest is peripheral.
On the prospect of losing world No. 1 ranking (the list will be out next month) to Magnus Carlsen at year-end...
On rural India's contribution to sports....
It's definitely a good sign to see more and more players coming from rural areas. Whether it is Olympics,Asian Games or Commonwealth Games and even cricket, most of these sportspersons are making Indiaproud. I think it is a significant change in Indian sports. For me, I would like to take chess to the rural areas and make it a pan-Indian game.
In the backdrop of Tendulkar's 50th ton, do you think you got a decent media coverage after you defended your World title this year?
Sachin is a great cricketer. But I'm happy to be a chess player and the recognition that I've got from the game. I couldn't have ask for more. I am happy to promote the game in our country.
Should Sachin get the Bharat Ratna?
He (Sachin) has been doing a great job in international cricket. But I am not in the position to suggest awards. I think the main thing is do well in sports and rest is peripheral.
On the prospect of losing world No. 1 ranking (the list will be out next month) to Magnus Carlsen at year-end...
I would want to be the World No. 1 but I think the main thing is to see the ranking as a motivational target. I'm gaining rating points and that is positive. In fact, I'm currently at my career-high Elo rating. I have never been at 2808 or 2809. My earlier best was 2803. I don't think one should worry about rankings.
How do you rate your new challenger Carlsen?
Carlsen has been able to win a lot more games than me. In Nanjing (China), I finished behind him at the Pearl Spring Chess Tournament. He is winning four games in a tournament and I am still a bit low. In terms of world ranking, it is a function of the margin. The margin between us is very narrow.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
How do you rate your new challenger Carlsen?
Carlsen has been able to win a lot more games than me. In Nanjing (China), I finished behind him at the Pearl Spring Chess Tournament. He is winning four games in a tournament and I am still a bit low. In terms of world ranking, it is a function of the margin. The margin between us is very narrow.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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