ITANAGAR, Sep 30: A week long coaching camp under Grand Master Pravin Thipsay of Mumbai which started on 24 September concluded here at Siddartha Hall on Monday. Grand Master Pravin is former seven times national chess champion and an Arjuna Awardee.
The camp was organized by All Arunachal Pradesh Chess Association (AAPCA) which was being sponsored by All India Chess Federation (AICF). Besides, the free coaching, AICF provided allowance of Rs.300 per trainee per day to the best 20 players between the age groups of 6 to 15 years. Altogether 45 children and 30 adult chess aficionados took part in the coaching camp.
During closing ceremony, AAPCA president Niapung Konia said, “This training was first of its kind in the state and the chess lovers who underwent the coaching camp immensely benefitted from it” .
Appreciating the AICF and grand master Pravin Thipsay, Konia said the camp would tremendously help chess players of the state in developing better skills as well as in improving their analytical abilities.
He informed that there are around 100 FIDE registered players of which more than 50 players have qualified FIDE rating. But due to lack of coaching facility, the players have not performed well at the national level tournaments.
Further, Konia appealed to the authorities to provide financial support to his organization so that more chess events can be conducted to give opportunities to chess talents of the state.
Thipsay while lauding the enthusiasm of the participants urged the state Chess Association to conduct more Chess Tournaments to give chances to players to test their abilities. He also requested the Association to select and send players for participation in regional and national level tournaments. Grand Master told that playing chess helps in improving memory, concentration, logical thinking and analytical ability of children. He exhorted parents to let their children learn chess which would help them to perform well in study.
