Time Anand widened horizon

The argument favouring Viswanathan Anand's decision to skip the Olympiad is a touchy affair. It is an open secret that sportstars take ap...

The argument favouring Viswanathan Anand8217;s decision to skip the Olympiad is a touchy affair. It is an open secret that sportstars take appearance money from the organisers. Anand is said to be the frontrunner along with Kasparov in chess in this respect.

Still, if it is on this count that he is staying away from the Indian teams, then he has a responsibility to make it public, at least to the people who count in deciding the formation of the team. In the modern World of endorsements and sponsorship, it would be easy to attract commercial establishments to lure Anand to play for India.

If India could finish 10th in Novi Saad when Anand was on Elo 2,610 and just Barua to back him, then there is still a distant possibility that this display could be lifted to a medal winning show now that the same Anand is a World beater and he will have adequate support from the other boards.

Twentyone-year old Abhijit Kunte of Pune, who has done extremely well since he joined IOC, is the best practical player India hasproduced with the exception of Anand.

Kunte looked comfortable playing against the Grandmasters in the Independence Jubilee Cup at Kozhikode in March and scored even 90 per cent in that group while winning the title.

It is long since an Indian again with the exception of Anand has won a GM event and this only shows that the fruits of India8217;s labour after Anand8217;s exploits are already there.

Then there is Krishnan Sasikiran of Chennai, only 17 and perhaps the best talent on view. He is already an International Master and if his progress and commitment are any indication, it is only a matter of time before he turns a Grandmaster.

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He is venturing into areas where Indians hesitated in the past. Sasi set a trend last year by going abroad to play in a string of tournaments which fetched him his IM title and a good exposure. In the past, IMs like Sekhar Sahu and Ravikumar used to play in tournaments in the UK and the USA, but they were already in their mid-20s, a little too late in the day.

Abhijit andSasi are the key members along with Pravin Thipsay and Dibyendu Barua to form the backup to Anand in the coming years. It is known that Anand has a busy schedule, but there is also a time for him to give something back to his country.

A great champion like Mikhail Botwinnik always believed in serving the cause of his National chess. He set up an academy from where the likes of Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov emerged to conquer the World.

It is time Anand expanded his image as an one-sided professional and set aside at least two weeks for his country and his many admirers.