Press Release
A unique initiative to enable every Indian to cheer
for Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand
as he fights to defend the crown for India at the World Chess Championship,
2013 in Chennai
New Delhi, October 29, 2013: NIIT Limited, leading Global Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s largest IT trainer, today unveiled #Wish4Vishy – a national movement to enable every Indian to cheer for reigning World Chess Champion and NIIT MindChampion Viswanathan (Vishy) Anand, as he prepares to take on challenger world number one Magnus Carlsen, at the World Chess Championship 2013, to be held between November 7 – 28, 2013 in Chennai.
In his glorious career spanning over 25 years grandmaster Viswanathan Anand has taken Indian chess to great heights. Born in Chennai, Anand is acclaimed to be the Fastest Brain in the world. Five times World Champion, Vishy is the only person in Chess history to have won a World championship title in all formats - match, knock-out and tournament. It is his success in the world scene that has made this ancient Indian game, a mass sport in India.
#Wish4Vishy, offers a unique opportunity to every Indian to take pride in Vishy’s achievements and wish him good luck before the forthcoming World Chess Championship. The best entries stand a chance to win free ticket during the World Chess Championship 2013 and special gifts on every alternate day, for the best wish expressed.
Vishy has been associated with NIIT for nearly 15 years now. NIIT MindChampions’ Academy (MCA), a not-for-profit joint initiative that was started by NIIT & Vishy to promote Chess in Schools, has today touched 1.65 million children in over 17,000 schools cumulatively, across the country. Over the years, MCA has not only enabled schools to use Chess as an academic tool but has also made it possible for Vishy, personally, to take the legacy of Chess to children across India.
Speaking on the #Wish4Vishy initiative, World Chess Champion and NIIT MindChampion, Viswanathan Anand said, “I would like to thank everyone for the amazing wishes. To all the friends who have sent in their wishes for me through NIIT’s #Wish4Vishy initiative, I would like to say that every single wish means a lot to me. Thank you for the fantastic support and your love.”
G. Raghavan, Chief Executive, Career Building Solutions, NIIT Limited said “It is a matter of immense pride for every Indian that five-time World Champion and NIIT MindChampion Vishy Anand will be defending his World title at his home ground in Chennai, this November. Therefore, we have specially put together the #Wish4Vishy movement to give every Indian an opportunity to cheer for Vishy and be a part of this excitement.”
The unique initiative involves sending in best wishes to Vishy over NIIT’s social platforms for the World Chess Championship. These include: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Vine (on Twitter). The Microsite #Wish4Vishy is the hub of all the wishes pouring in.
The NIIT MindChampions’ Academy (MCA), a not-for-profit initiative has been set up as a joint initiative by Grand Master Viswanathan Anand and NIIT Limited with the objective of promoting Chess in schools to enable development of young minds. Studies have shown that Chess improves concentration and diligence thus helping students perform better academically.
Established in 2002, MCA has touched 1.65 million children in over 17,000 schools cumulatively, across India. Over the last 11 years MCA has organized more than 16,000 school level tournaments and over 5,500 District level & State Level tournaments. World Chess Champion and NIIT MindChampion Viswanathan Anand has personally travelled to various parts across India and has visited countries like Africa & China, spreading the message and motivating the school students to start playing chess.
Established in 1981, NIIT Limited, a leading Global Talent Development Corporation and Asia’s premier IT trainer, offers learning and knowledge solutions across 40 countries. Leading IT journal Dataquest has conferred upon NIIT the ‘Top IT Training Company’ award successively for the past 20 years, since the inception of this category.
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