Chess championship for the disabled
KUCHING: The preliminary round of the Sarawak region, 2nd Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled was held at Aeroville Mall, yesterday.
The event was organised by the District 308 A2, Region 1 Lions Club together with co-organisers National Chess Association for the Disabled (Pcokum), Association for Disabled Sports and Recreation (Pesron), and Sarawak State Chess Association.
Participants of the events comprised mainly the blind, deaf, and physically handicapped communities of Kuching, Bau, Serian, Sibu, and Miri.
A total of 26 participants joined the competition and five rounds of Rapid Chess were played from 9am to 4pm.
The top 10 winners of the event will represent Sarawak in the upcoming Grand Finals of the 2nd Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled in Kuala Lumpur next March.
According to Region 1 Lions Club chairperson Helena Lim, the primary objective of the event is to provide public awareness on the positive characteristics of disabled people, their strong spirit of sportsmanship, competitiveness, self-discipline, and confidence.
“Apart from this, the event brings together this group of people who share a common passion to get to know one another and to compete in the true spirit of sportsmanship.
“This could further develop their cognitive, intellectual, psychomotor, as well as their spiritual dimension,” said Lim.
Officiating at the event was Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
Also present was district governor of District 308 A2 Lions Club Dr Gan Kean Siong.
Lions Club of Kuala Lumpur Central, being one of the organisers, has been organising similar events in Kuala Lumpur with strong support from Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Berjaya Times Square.
They are sharing their expertise with Lions Club throughout the country to manage this national level event for the second time since 2018.
