Chandigarh
13 April 2023
DIVYA AZAD
The AICFB National Women Chess Championship for the Visually Challenged, 2023, the premium National chess event for the visually impaired women chess players of the country, is commenced from 13th April, 2023 and will continue till 16th April, 2023 in the city of Chandigarh. The tournament is being jointly organized by National Association for the Blind and All India Chess Federation for The Blind in association with Equal Opportunity Cell (PwDs) & Directorate of Sports, Panjab University, Chandigarh. The tournament features a number of players who have participated and won medals in various international events. Selected women participants from more than 14 states across the country are competing over a period of 4 days to ascertain the winners. Ms Mrunali Pande, Ms Megha Chakravarthy and Tijan Gawar are some of the top international Para Olympians who have secured medals and were facilitated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, are also participating in this tournament.
This tournament serves as a pathway for 2 very important international events. While 6 players (3 each from category totally blind and partially blind) will be selected for the 4th Asian Para games to be held in China later this year, the top 2 rankers of this tournament will get an opportunity to represent the country in the IBCA women chess championship to be held in Spain.
The inauguration ceremony was held at the Gymnasium Hall, Panjab University, Chandigarh and was Chaired by Shri Satya Pal Jain, Additional Solicitor General of India and Ms Rumina Sethi, Dean of University Instructions, Panjab University.
A top chess player of northern India Mr Dushyant Sharma, who has already attained the title of International master was also present to motivate and support this event. It is worth mentioning that the participants gained eligibility to this tournament after qualifying the selection tournaments in their own states followed by similar events in their respective zones.
