World chess king hopes sport makes Olympic debut

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2007

NEW DELHI (AFP) — Reigning world chess champion Vishwanathan Anand of India said Tuesday that he hoped his sport would one day be included in the Olympic Games as a medal discipline.

The bespectacled Anand, crowned chess king two weeks ago after toppling Russia's Vladimir Kramnik in Mexico City, said it would be some time before chess made it to that level -- but he was optimistic.

"Hopefully some time in the near future chess would make it as a regular Olympic discipline," said the 37-year-old nicknamed the "Tiger from Madras" -- the old name for his home city of Chennai.

Chess has been accepted by the International Olympic Committee as an associate sport and was played at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, in December last year.

"First they have to...