Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
World champion Viswanathan Anand's hunt for an elusive victory continued as he was held by former challenger Vladimir Kramnik of Russia for a draw, in the fourth round of the London Chess Classic.
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on sports calendars across the globe, resulting in cancellation and postponement of events, but it has also provided sportspersons a rather unexpected break. Indian sportspersons including some chess players plan to use the time to train and also be with their families.
Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand's father Viswanathan Iyer on Wednesday termed his son's achievement of winning his fifth World Championship title as the "proudest moment of our lives".
World Champion Viswanathan Anand failed to capitalise on chances that came his way and played out a draw with tail-ender Levon Aronian of Armenia in the third round of the London Chess Classic on Monday.
Chess legends Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov reignite one of the greatest rivalries in the history of chess this week with a re-match of their classic 1984 world championship contest.
Mountaineer Bachendri Pal was, on Friday, conferred with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, while Gautam Gambhir, BajranG Punia and Sunil Chhetri, among others, received the Padma Shri.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday.
Celebrated boxer M C Mary Kom will be conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award, while world champion shuttler P V Sindhu will get the Padma Bhushan among eight sportspersons named for the prestigious honours on Saturday. She is one of seven eminent personalities to be awarded the Padma Vibhushan this year.
Legendary Sachin Tendulkar along with chess wizard Viswanathan Anand and tennis ace Sania Mirza are likely to grace India's first ever day-night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens.
'It was a big relief to get it out of the way. Now he can concentrate on future progress.'
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Tuesday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Viswanathan Anand turns 40 today. On the occasion, the chess ace has just one wish -- that the sport be included in the Olympics. Join us in wishing the king of the 64 squares board a very happy birthday and all the best for the coming year.
Chess legend Garry Kasparov believes that reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand has lost motivation and the Indian, who is defending his title against Boris Gelfand right now, has been "sliding downhill" for the past few years.
Deft moves by chess legend Garry Kasparov gave him a decisive upper hand against long-time rival Anatoly Karpov in the first set of a 12-game re-match in Valencia, Spain on Tuesday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Indian chess ace Viswanathan Anand will find himself in the unfamiliar position of starting as the lowest-ranked player when he takes on a tough field in his first Classical tournament since losing the world title, in the Zurich Challenge in Zurich at the Savoy.
He began with a reasonable show on his maiden appearance in the Chess 960 world championship in Germany.
Looking back, the Indians had rubbed their hands in delight at the variety of marquee events at home the sporting calendar of 2017 offered, and they now look forward, with optimism and anticipation, to a challenging 2018.
Five-time world champion Viswanthan Anand continued his fine form and crashed through the defences of Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan to notch up his second successive win in the Candidates Chess tournament in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia.
