‘Long dream’: Nihal Sarin 'excited' but 'not thinking about' Olympiad title defence
Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin is preparing for the upcoming Chess Olympiad while currently competing in the Global Chess League. He expressed excitement about representing India but is maintaining a relaxed focus on his current tournament.
Why it matters
Highlights the high-pressure environment of professional chess and the logistical challenges of managing back-to-back international tournaments for elite athletes.
BENGALURU: The Chess Olympiad is already on Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin’s mind, but not quite yet. With India preparing to defend its Open title in Samarkand, Uzbekistan later this month, Nihal is excited about representing the country at the Olympiad. For now, though, the 22-year-old is keeping his attention firmly on the Global Chess League (GCL), where he is representing American Gambits in this fourth season.Asked whether he was already thinking about the Olympiad while playing his games in Bengaluru, Nihal said: “Not really, no. Like, in general, I'm just extremely excited to play in the Olympiad. I'm very happy, and I'll just try to give my best for the team. It has been a long-time dream.”But with the GCL currently taking centre stage, Nihal is deliberately keeping things relaxed. “Now I'm just (focusing on GCL). This tournament is very relaxed.
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