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Keeping his eyes focused on the World Chess championship beginning in November in Moscow, Viswanathan Anand, on Saturday, said his main goal now was to retain the world title. "I would like to retain the world championship. That's a very important goal. It's a big challenge to do it twice in a row. But I am going there with all guns booming," Anand told, adding he was expecting a tough challenge.
"You should get into sports because you like it and enjoy it" Noting that 100 to 120 best players in the world are participating in the championship, Anand said any of the top ten could win it. "It's quite unpredictable." The 31-year-old said he planned to start a chess academy but that will be only after he retires from professional chess.
"Yes that will be much later. It (academy) is not something you can combine with your career. I should give it 100 per cent. You can't turn up on a Sunday and give a few lessons. It's not healthy." Anand said he would be playing chess for at least five years and then would "have a relook" and see whether he "still likes and enjoys playing the game." He also has plans to contribute to the popularity of chess, mainly in India, and wherever he can.
Anand emphasised that India should organise one international tournament on an annual basis where top world players participate. "It's a real vacuum to be filled." On the status of chess in India, he said it was healthy in many areas. Print and TV coverage of chess had increased with some sponsors also getting into the game. On India's dismal record in Olympics and other international events, Anand said in the 1960s and '70s, "climate for sports" in India was not good but now things are changing.
"Indians are now open to ideas. Climate has also changed. Companies have also become pro-active. Maybe in ten years, we will see the results," he said but warned "other countries are not exactly sitting back and watching us." About his favourite
sportsperson, Anand said "I like Bobby Fischer and John Mcnroe. I also follow what Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are up to." He
described his winning the world title as the happiest moment in his career. Anand attributes the secret of his success mainly to his enjoying the game. "I enjoy chess, something I took to naturally. That went well. Because I have enjoyed it I have never felt to explain it to myself. Obviously, I have some talent and I work hard," Anand, known for his humility, said.
On the chess federation, he said
"the Federation's role is that of a facilitator. They should ensure that all the tournaments are rated, and try to develop the game." But Anand noted that these days private sponsors and event organisers were playing a bigger part in organising sports events in general and said it would be nice if more of them came into chess. A brand ambassador of NIIT, he cautioned youngsters that they should not get into sports for the money. "It (sports) is a demanding thing. You should get into sports because you like it and enjoy it." On being treated like an icon, Anand said "I don't wake up thinking about it. Sometimes you feel like a different person....I don't think about it...I don't reflect on it."
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