Chess Olympiad Torch relay reaches Chandigarh 

The first-ever Chess Olympiad Torch Relay reached Chandigarh on Thursday
 U T Administrator and Governor of Punjab Banwari Lal Purohit received the torch from Grandmaster Deep Sengupta. The torch will travel next to various destinations including Patiala and Amritsar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the torch relay of Chess Olympiad on June 19, taking the initiative of a new tradition from Delhi.
The torch had reached Shimla from Dharamshala, where Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur received it and handed it over to Grandmaster Deep Sengupta
Earlier  the first-ever Chess Olympiad Torch Relay reached Srinagar and then Jammu and Shimla. Leh hosted the first-ever Torch Relay of the 44th Chess Olympiad on Monday. The torch, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, began its relay from Leh.
The torch will travel in 75 cities for 40 days before it culminates at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. 189 countries are participating in the Chess Olympiad. Chess grandmasters will receive the torch at various identified venues. Grand Master Dibyendu Barua brought the torch from Delhi and handed it over to LG RK Mathur, to begin the relay from Leh.Governor BL Purohit said , The first torch relay for Chess Olympiad games is starting from India. For the first time, this year, India is also going to host Chess Olympiad games. We are proud that a sport, starting from its birthplace and leaving its mark all over the world, has become a passion for many countries. Vinay Pratap DC Chandigarh, BJP leader and UTCA president Sanjay Tandon , UT SSP Kuldeep Chahal ,Prof Anil Raina of Chandigarh Chess Association  were present on the occasion.