Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik discussed Chess development in Odisha with Ms. Dana Reizniece Ozola, Deputy Chair of FIDE Management Board.

Bhubaneswar, 25 October 2023 (Pratyusha Bureau): – Ms. Dana Reizniece Ozola, Woman Grand Master, Deputy Chair of FIDE( International Chess Federation) Management Board and Former Minister of Finance & Economics, Republic of Latvia who is visiting Odisha met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and engaged in a fruitful discussion to promote chess and commended the state’s initiatives in nurturing young chess talent. Chief Minister Patnaik and Ms. Reizniece-Ozola emphasized the need to popularize chess as a mind-sport and its immense potential to empower the youth intellectually and emotionally. The meeting highlighted the importance of identifying and supporting young chess prodigies and providing them with the right infrastructure and training to excel on the national and international stages. Chief Minister Patnaik said, “We are committed to providing the best opportunities for our youth, and chess is a powerful avenue for their growth. We have established the State level chess academy – Pro-Chess-Ta, Chess in Schools project, while more than 100 Chess training centers across Odisha are planned. We look forward to working closely with FIDE to achieve our goals.” Ms. Reizniece-Ozola, known for her unwavering support for the global chess community, expressed her appreciation for the Chief Minister and Odisha’s relentless efforts in fostering the growth of sports among its youth.