Moving knights and pawns on the board for seven years now, this 22-year-old is now trying to steer chess in West Singhbhum district to a new high.

Meet Basant Khandelwal, who was named general secretary of West Singhbhum District Chess Association on April 15, making him the youngest sports administrator in the state.

Khandelwal, who has been playing chess since he was 15, is now busy finalising arrangements for a district chess meet beginning in Chaibasa on Friday.

"I am very young to take on the responsibility of a district outfit. But I have the support and guidance of my seniors. I am hopeful of giving positive results," said Khandelwal, who admitted he was new to the nitty-gritty of sports administration but insisted he wanted to produce chess players from his district who could win state and national competitions.

Khandelwal said he was thankful for the opportunity to the association president Mukund Rungta.

"Rungta ji has been guiding me in administrative matters. Lot of work is needed to channel chess in Chaibasa. We intend to organise as many tournaments as possible. This will give adequate exposure to players and also help them improve their game," Khandelwal said.

Unlike Jamshedpur, parents in Chaibasa weren't all that supportive about sending their wards to learn chess, claimed the general secretary.

"There is a chess culture in Jamshedpur. It's yet to be developed in Chaibasa. I also intend to spread awareness about the game among parents," said Khandelwal, a commerce graduate from Shayama Prasad Mukherjee College, Calcutta.

Khandelwal mentors students of Hill Top School in Jamshedpur and also runs a chess coaching centre at Telco. "I am in Jamshedpur on Saturdays," he clarified.

All Jharkhand Chess Association working president Neeraj Kumar Mishra said it was good to see someone as young as Khandelwal taking on such responsibility. "Look, few people want to get involved in chess as it is not an attractive sport. I wish Khandelwal the best," said the International Master.

Mishra, who is chief coach at Calcutta's Dibyendu Barua chess academy, said Khandelwal was the youngest sports administrator in Jharkhand. "In fact, more and more young people should come forward to join sports associations as administrators," he added.

Veteran chess mentor and treasurer of East Singhbhum District Chess Association Jayant Kumar Bhuyan lauded Khandelwal's appointment, saying he was enthusiastic and full of energy. "Khandelwal is in the learning stages as far as chess administration is concerned. But he has age on his side to effectively manage chess affairs in future," he added.