Chennai : All India Chess Federation (AICF) has joined hands with Indorama as co-sponsor of the Indian team for the upcoming 44th Chess Olympiad, scheduled in Chennai from 28 July to 10 August. This is also for the first time that the Indian team is striking it rich with the Tamilnadu government providing a Rs 1 crore sponsorship for the squad while co-sponsors State Bank of India and Indorama, Asia’s leading chemical holding company have pledged Rs 50 lakhs each to the squad. “We are delighted to welcome Indorama as Indian team’s co-sponsor. Hosting the Chess Olympiad is a dream comes true moment for us and getting support from the sponsors will help us make it a memorable event. It’s great to see chess getting corporate support which will encourage and bolster the growth of the sport in India,”said AICF Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan.
“We have been supporting chess in United Kingdom but we are Indians and want to support and promote chess in our home country. We, at Indorama, are super excited to be part of the journey of the Indian teams for the Chess Olympiad as co-sponsors. I am keen that young players benefit monetarily by playing chess as this is very essential to enhance the status of chess in India We believe this is a first step towards building a long and fruitful relationship,”said Aarti Lohia, spokesperson of Indorama. Sanjay Kapoor, President AICF announced that about 75 per cent of the sponsored amount will go to the players while the remaining will be utilized on conducting coaching camps and Kits for the players.