KISS Chess Academy launched

Chess in Odisha received yet another boost with city-based tribal school, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) launching a chess academy at the school campus here in Patia today. According to KIIT Sports Officer Gaganendu Dash, KISS Chess Academy is probably the biggest of its kind in the country having provision to provide regular coaching to 200 tribal students of the school.

Set up with the cooperation of All Odisha Chess Association (AOCA), the academy will also provided coaching to students of other educational institutions. Coaching camps for advance players too will be conducted at the academy.

Unveiling the academy, KIIS and KIIT founder Dr Achyuta Samanta said: ``This unique initiative will be a model concept in introducing the mind game amongst the tribal students. It can be an experiment to prove that given the opportunity and support, tribal children, who are natural athletes, can excel in the mind game as well.``

KISS has appointed Gourahari Mohapatra as the coach of the academy. Mohapatra operated as a professional chess coach in Mumbai for 10 years. The academy run will under the supervision and guidance of eminent coach and AOCA president Sekhar Chandra Sahu.