Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In a conversation with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today, female grand master Dana Reizniece Ozola praised the state’s efforts to develop young chess potential. Ozola, a former minister of finance and economics for the Republic of Latvia and the deputy chair of the FIDE (International Chess Federation) Management Board, met the chief minister while she was in Odisha. Patnaik and Ozola stressed the importance of chess’s widespread appeal as a mind-sport and its enormous capacity to provide young people a sense of emotional and intellectual empowerment.
The conference brought to light the significance of spotting and nurturing young chess prodigies and equipping them with the necessary tools and instruction to succeed at the national and worldwide levels. “We are committed to providing our youth with the best opportunities, and chess is a powerful avenue for their growth,” Patnaik said. In addition to the Chess in Schools initiative, we have launched the Pro-Chess-Ta State level Chess Academy and have plans to open more than 100 Chess training facilities throughout Odisha. To accomplish our objectives, we look forward to collaborating closely with FIDE.
Reizniece-Ozola, who is well-known for her steadfast support of the international chess community, sent her gratitude to the Chief Minister and the state of Odisha for their persistent efforts to promote young sports growth.
