Pakistan withdraws from 44th Chess Olympiad; says India politicising the event
New Delhi: Just ahead of the start of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, Pakistan announced to back out from participating in the event on Thursday. Soon after the news surfaced, India slammed Pakistan for playing politics on sports. It is reported that Pakistan decided to withdraw from the event after their team reached India.
India slams Pakistan for politicising 44th Chess Olympiad
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“It is surprising that Pakistan has taken a decision not to participate in Chess Olympiad even after their team reached India,” said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi to presspersons.
Notably, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) had sent an invitation to Pakistan to participate in the 44th Chess Olympiad scheduled to be held in Chennai, from July 28 to August 10.
It said that Pakistan decided to withdraw its contingent already training for this event, while objecting that the torch relay passed through Srinagar on June 21.
“Pakistan condemns India’s mischievous attempt to mix politics with sports. As a protest, Pakistan has decided not to participate in the 44th Chess Olympiad and will also raise the matter with the International Chess Federation at the highest level,” the Pakistan Foreign Ministry had alleged in a statement.
Responding to Pakistan’s argument, Bagchi said,” the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will always be an integral part of India. It is very unfortunate that Pakistan has politicised the prestigious international event by making such statements and withdrawing its participation.”
The Chess Olympiad 2022 is being held at the Four Points by Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort and Convention Centre in Mahabalipuram. Initially, the Chess Olympiad was scheduled to be held in Russia but the event got cancelled after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and moved to India.
The upcoming edition will witness a record 188 teams in the Open section and 162 in the women’s category. The 44th Chess Olympiad will run till August 10.