Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay Welcomes National Sports Bill, Flags Concerns Over Extended Tenures

By A Staff Reporter

India’s third chess Grandmaster, Pravin Thipsay, has welcomed the passage of the National Sports Bill in Parliament, describing it as a significant step towards reforming the country’s sports governance framework. However, he also cautioned that certain provisions could have unintended consequences.

Thipsay noted that the new sports code increases the retirement age for office-bearers and extends the maximum continuous term for officials in sports federations. He said that while these changes could provide stability and allow for the execution of long-term projects—overcoming the limitations of a shorter six-year term—they also carry the risk of concentrating power in the hands of a few individuals.

He expressed concern that prolonged leadership could enable certain office-holders to exert undue influence over state associations, potentially limiting the democratic functioning of sports bodies. Thipsay described the move as “a double-edged affair” that would require close monitoring to prevent misuse.

On anti-doping provisions, Thipsay praised the bill for strengthening policies aimed at keeping sports clean and fair. He called the move commendable and in line with global best practices.