India Withdraws from World Cadet Chess Championship in Egypt Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
Image Source: Clarion India
In light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Indian national chess team has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the World Cadet Chess Championship, which was slated to commence in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, on Saturday. The primary concern behind this decision is the safety and security of the young players and officials.
The tournament, set to take place from October 14 to 23, was to feature the participation of 39 young Indian chess players in the under-12, under-10, and under-8 categories. The venue, Sharm el Sheikh, is located at a proximity of less than 400 kilometres from the Israel border, which adds to the perceived risk.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has also taken the initiative to request the international chess governing body, FIDE, to consider postponing the championship, given the tense situation in the Gaza Strip.
In an official press release, the AICF stated, “Considering the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas and the age of participants, after due deliberations, it was decided to withdraw the participation of the Indian team in the World Cadet Chess Championship-2023.”
It’s worth noting that approximately 80 individuals, including players, coaches, and accompanying personnel, were scheduled to travel to Sharm el Sheikh for the tournament.
The decision to withdraw the Indian team from the championship was made with the utmost consideration for the safety and security of the young participants, especially as Egypt shares its border with Gaza and Israel. Furthermore, the geographical proximity of Sharm el Sheikh to the Israel border raises concerns about the potential impact on commercial airlines in the Middle East on short notice, given the volatile nature of the conflict.
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