Friendship through healthy competition.

Sports has historically been a unifying factor after the politicians and entrenched selfish interests have made a mess of people relationship.

I remember being intrigued by the Chinese sports slogan of friendship first and competition second many years ago when China was still seeking International acceptance.

There was an event during WW1 when the german and allied forces called for a short break from the fighting to have a football game on Christmas day before resuming fighting after.

I remember the strong Malaysian spirit after winning Mal/Sing 2011.

All these events transcended pettiness and empty slogans. That's what sports can do. In the midst of cheering for our team we forget our differences and we become one. And we need a win to see the smiles all round.

That is why we need to keep politics out of chess. We need to close all the backdoors; we need to stop the political appointees. Only selection from healthy competition.

We need to send out strong junior teams ie U20's and not just age group teams. The U20's are the closest we have to progress.

Note: Right now we are sending them out one at a time if we send them out at all for junior events. That is wrong. We only focus on the younger age group events because that is where the trainers and organisers make money. That is a major reason why we are slipping further and further behind Internationally.

After sending out strong junior teams, we then pit the juniors against the senior team to fight for their places. Iron sharpen iron and we will eventually be strong. But this will not happen overnight. We have been sleeping for too long. We have been misguided for too long.

We have allowed the PR campaigns and false indicators to determine selection for too long. And we have abandoned or knocked out those that are able to reach the next level from the time they have the skills and knowledge to challenge for the next level.

Keep politics out of chess and we can see that too. What happened at the last Olympiad? What is happening now?

The old Chinese slogan was not quite right. We need competition but healthy competition. Not the Jimmy Liew and friends type. Not the "don't try to win or you'll make enemies"; not the I will ban you because you are too strong and not the I will attack you if you go to anyone else to try another method.

Only from healthy competition can we have friendship. Backdoors and political appointees cause strife and anger. But we can all accept someone who has earned their place by playing fighting chess in a proper selection tournament. And we will cheer this Malaysian team, win or lose. Win better.

So can this be our new chess slogan?

Friendship through healthy competition.