Panaji: Goan sports is no longer just about football and cricket. There’s chess too, gaining in popularity, and the state is now keen to capitalise on the impressive performances with the recent launch of the Goa Chess Academy at Campal.There will be another one in the south too.“Once we hosted the chess World Cup, Goa had infrastructural assets for chess,” said Ajay Gaude, executive director, Sports Authority of Goa (SAG). “CM Pramod Sawant was keen that we continue with our chess plans. The Academy plan was finalised in just eight days. The govt will spend money on running the academy. A coach will be hired soon.”The Goa Chess Association (GCA) will have a role to play in the academy. At present, there are three regular coaching centres by SAG with three coaches at its disposal.However, the Academy will have a new experienced coach.“We will have a total of 60 players, 20 each in three batches. The Academy will teach basics as well as advanced levels. Players can move to the next level,” said Gaude.The SAG ED, also director at the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) said Goa wants to move to a higher level in the sport, particularly after the recent success of Leon Mendonca and Ethan Vaz, both grandmasters. Anurag Mhamal is the first Goan GM, while Bhakti Kulkarni has an Arjuna Award to her name, the first outside football for the state.“Chess has a good base in Goa. We have three grandmasters in less than a decade. I have always maintained that state associations have a role to play, that’s why GCA is helping us with the Academy as well,” said Gaude.There won’t be too much of an infrastructural cost for the Academy since chairs, tables and material from the World Cup will be put to good use.Wherever needed, the association will lend a helping hand to the Academy.“We will provide them with manual, technical guidance as well as modern methods,” said GCA secretary Ashesh Keni. “We will play an active role in advanced training.”
