'Embarrassed' AICF files police complaint after Chess Olympiad trophy goes missing
Chennai, Sep 21: An "embarrassed" All India Chess Federation (AICF) has filed a police complaint after a Chess Olympiad trophy its team won in the last edition of the tournament at home went missing from its office, forcing the sports body to arrange for a replica of the prized possession and tender an apology.
It is a rolling trophy, and the incident came at a time when the Indian men's team is closing in on the gold medal in the ongoing 45th edition of the Olympiad at Budapest.
AICF sources confirmed that the Gaprindashvili Trophy, given to the team with the best overall performance across open and women's divisions, has gone missing.
India was the last holder of the trophy, having won it here in 2022.
AICF vice-president Anil Kumar Raizada told PTI that the trophy has been missing for over a month and it came, after the International Chess Federation (FIDE) had asked for the trophy to be brought to Budapest.
"After we had received a request from FIDE for the trophy to be brought, we have been unable to trace it for over 30 days. As a result, we have filed an official police complaint, and an investigation will follow," he said.
A senior AICF official said that a "contingency plan is in place" and that "a replacement trophy" has already been ordered for the current edition.
"Yes, we tried to look for it all around following FIDE's request. However, we have been unable to locate it so far. It is indeed an embarrassing situation, and these things require utter responsibility," the senior official stated on the condition of anonymity.
"For now, a replacement trophy has been ordered. It won't be as unique as the original, but still, it will be close to the original one. We apologise for the mess."
The current edition of the Olympiad got underway on September 10 and is set to conclude on September 23.
A total of 197 teams representing 195 national federations are presently competing in the event.
For India, the open team consists of Arjun Erigaisi, Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa R, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi and Harikrishna Pentala.
As for the women, the side includes Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal and Tania Sachdev.
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Days after teen dies in freak accident on basketball court, police lodge FIR on family's complaint
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana Police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons based on a complaint lodged by the family of a teenage basketball player, who died after the iron pole of a basketball hoop fell on him during practice in Rohtak district last month, an official said on Sunday.
The family of Hardik Rathi, who competed in the sub-junior national championships earlier, filed the complaint on Saturday, a police officer in Rohtak said.
His father has alleged criminal negligence by the officials concerned in the matter, pointing out that nothing was done despite bringing the "rusted, dilapidated, and unstable" basketball poles to the authorities notice.
Sandeep Rathi said he has alleged criminal negligence by public servants and contractors associated with the incident which caused his son’s death.
"Hardik's father filed a complaint on Saturday and based on that, an FIR has been lodged against unknown persons under the Section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita," Lakhanmajra Station House Officer (SHO) Samarjeet Singh said.
"The complaint seeks action against anyone whose negligence led to the incident," he added.
Hardik and another teen died in eerily similar accidents in Haryana last month after the iron pole of the hoop crushed them on court during practice.
The twin tragedies in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts brought the state's sports infrastructure under scrutiny.
While 16-year-old Hardik died in Rohtak, Aman, 15, who was injured in Bahadurgarh, breathed his last during treatment at PGIMS Rohtak.
Hardik's father, Sandeep Rathi, had told mediapersons in Rohtak recently, "We repeatedly complained about the condition of the playground in our village, but the administration did nothing about it. Had they acted in time, my child would not have died."
The complainant has alleged that his son died in the incident while he was practicing at the basketball court at the Lakhan Majra Sports Stadium.
He said that Hardik Rathi was a national-level basketball player and had participated in several tournaments.
Sandeep Rathi further alleged that the basketball court at the stadium needed repairs as the poles were "rusted, dilapidated, and unstable" and claimed that several requests were made for this.
A grant of more than Rs 12 lakh was approved from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) funds of the local MP, but no work was done on the basketball court. Subsequently, an additional grant of Rs 6.20 lakh was also approved under the fund, but no work was done, he alleged.
In the complaint he said due to the "deliberate negligence" of the officials concerned in the discharge of their duties, a basketball pole fell on his son, causing fatal injuries, leading to his death on November 25.
He demanded that the role of the contractor who installed the poles at the basketball court in the sports stadium and the government officials who supervised the installation should also be investigated.
"...All public servants and contractors who installed the substandard poles and who deliberately failed to perform their duties of periodically inspecting and repairing the poles are responsible for criminal negligence in causing my son's death through their actions and conduct and have therefore committed offences punishable under the law...", he alleged.
In Bahadurgarh, Aman's father Suresh recently lodged a police complaint alleging negligence on the part of the officials concerned for the teen's death. He also sought action against the officials responsible.
The twin incidents led to an outrage in Haryana, with opposition parties slamming the BJP government and anguished family members joining them in blaming the establishment for the dilapidated sports infrastructure in the state.
After the tragic incidents, Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam said that departments maintaining sportsgrounds, such as education, panchayat, etc., must give an undertaking on their worthiness.
The sports minister also chaired a review meeting with the sports department officials in Panchkula, where he said that Rs 114 crore has been released for the repair, upgradation, and redevelopment of stadiums and playgrounds across the state.
Additionally, a major portion of the funds available with the district sports councils will be used to extensively renovate the playgrounds, Gautam had said.
