Sports activities Ministry ‘didn’t seek the advice of’ AICF earlier than ending money incentive for attaining GM, IM titles: Chess federation VP
In a shocking transfer, the Sports activities Ministry eliminated the money award scheme for chess gamers who aspire to bag the Grandmaster, Worldwide Grasp or Worldwide Girls Grasp titles sooner or later. Previously, after bagging the GM title, Indian chess gamers have been awarded ₹4 lakh. In the meantime, they obtained ₹1.5 lakh for bagging IM and IWM titles. Additionally, the money prize was solely relevant to chess gamers attaining these titles earlier than turning 20 years outdated.
The transfer is weird, contemplating that the Sports activities Ministry was soaking in D Gukesh’s World Championship glory not too long ago. The Indian GM was additionally awarded the Main Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
In the meantime, Koneru Humpy gained the World Speedy Championship after Gukesh’s victory, and even Vaishali Rameshbabu clinched bronze on the Blitz C’ship. So what led to them eradicating the money prize system for aspiring GMs, IMs, and IWMs?
Criticising the Sports activities Ministry’s transfer, All India Chess Federation Vice-President Dibyendu Barua revealed that there have been no discussions between each events. Talking completely to Hindustan Occasions, he mentioned, “No, we didn’t know. The AICF has not been consulted. They took the choice completely with out consulting the All India Chess Federation. Undoubtedly, it isn’t an excellent signal. As a participant, I might say I don’t agree with this.”
“I’ll increase this level in our subsequent assembly to write down to the ministry. In order that they consider bringing it again once more. As a substitute of accelerating they’ve simply demolished it. Large upset for the chess fraternity,” he added.
Barua, who’s a GM himself, and can also be a three-time Indian Chess Champion, felt that the removing of the money prize system may show to be a demotivating issue for folks of aspiring younger gamers. He additionally identified that not each GM, IM or IWM in India has a giant sponsor to again them with funds, and it’s certainly a battle for the others, who don’t fall into the identical bracket as a few of the high Indian chess stars.
After attaining the talked about titles, chess gamers additionally have to journey quite a bit attributable to a rise in event invites. Earlier, the money prize was a supply of motivation for not simply the chess gamers but additionally for the gamers, because it gave extra monetary safety early on and in a rustic like India, an quantity of 1-4.5 lakhs is a hefty sum.
In accordance with a report within the Indian Specific, the Sports activities Ministry has launched this choice in all disciplines to regulate age fraud, doping and likewise to maintain children motivated. In the meantime, India GM Erigaisi has additionally criticised the transfer, and he advised PTI that it could possibly be an enormous demotivating issue for folks of younger chess gamers.
