2 lakh state youth to get chess coaching

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 17

In an effort to divert the mind of youth from anti-social activities, the All J&K Chess Association (AJKCA) has decided to provide basic chess training to around two lakh youth of the state.

Atul Kumar Gupta, president of the association, told The Tribune here today that around 10,000 children had been imparted basic training in chess in collaboration with different agencies.

“As the inclination of some youth is towards drugs and other anti-social activities, this is a cause of concern not only for parents but for the whole society,” Gupta said.

“In fact, in July this year, we covered the Tangdhar area in Kashmir wherein the youth were provided chess training by experts through projectors. This was possible with the help of the Shakti Vijay Brigade. Even Leh in Ladakh is almost covered wherein the youth evinced keen interest to learn the game,” he added.

“The association, under the theme of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, is planning to organise an event exclusively for girls in collaboration with Heritage School, Sainik Colony, to create awareness about the girl child. Recently, the association provided basic training in chess to around 900 girls in a school. This game is most suitable for girls as they love indoor games,” Gupta said.

The training programme was coordinated by Satinder Singh, sports in charge of the school, he added. Vivek Bharti Gupta imparted training using the latest technology with audio-visual lectures to students in five different sessions. Girls from classes II to XII participated with enthusiasm.

Initiative for girl child

The All J&K Chess Association, under the theme of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, is planning to organise an event in collaboration with Heritage School, Sainik Colony, to create awareness about the girl child. A few days back, the association provided basic training to all girl students of a school wherein around 900 girls learnt basic skills of the game. —Atul Kumar Gupta, president, all J&K chess association