Anand bats for chess' inclusion in 2020 Olympics

Chess legend Viswanathan Anand Thursday said it will be 'great' if the sport is included in the Olympic programme for the 2020 Games.

Chess has applied for inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a final decision is expected to come next summer.

"It will be great for the sport if that happens," five-time world champion Anand said on the eve of the Indian team's departure for the Chess Olympiad, to be held in Batumi, Georgia from September 23 to October 6.

The country's other top players such as Tania Sachdev and Vidit Gujarati also felt the same.

Gujarati, in fact, felt he could not win an Arjuna award this year, despite being recommended by the All India Chess Federation, as the sport is not part of multisport events.

"I have won six medals, including gold, in Asian team events and one in Asian Championship," Vidit said, presenting his case.

The last chess player to win an Arjuna was Abhijeet Gupta in 2013.

AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan called for more recognition for the ...