From rxpgnews.com
New India Assurance sponsors chess in Trinidad
By Paras Ramoutar, IANS,
May 17, 2007 - 12:14:06 PM
Port-of-Spain -, May 17 - Indian companies are not only making forays abroad by buying international companies but also making waves in the sporting arena - like sponsoring chess in oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago.
This was evident when multinational insurance company, New India Assurance, agreed to sponsor the National Chess Championship.
Joseph Plappallil, managing director, said that his company was delighted to be associated with this country's chess association.
'New India Assurance has always supported sports but we decided to pursue chess because it was an area lacking in Trinidad and Tobago,' he told the media.
'Most companies are quick to sponsor football or cricket, but we saw the need to invest our money into the chess community.
Chess is very popular in India with a rich tradition and is reported daily on our news programmes with the world chess champion Viswanathan Anand being from India.'
Plappallil said he hopes that New India can elevate the status of the sport popularity and development in Trinidad and Tobago where nearly 50 percent of the population of a million is of Indian origin.
'Since we began sponsoring the National Chess Tournament, it has grown into a big event with a high standard of play. Clubs have emerged around the country and we are pleased to see the sport expand,' he said.
Bhisam Soondarsingh, president of Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association, thanked New India for the sponsorship.
'New India Assurance has definitely been a success for the Chess community enabling us to host our prestigious National Chess Tournament while sending our players to compete in North and Central America.
The last three representatives in the Olympiad came from Chess tournaments sponsored by New India,' he said.
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