SA opens hearts and wallets to smash R100K target for teen chess champ's global dream
Imkhitha Joya asked for help to get her to the World Youth Chess Championships in Albania later this year.
Imkhitha became the South African U14 girls' chess champion after an unbeaten run at the Junior Closed Chess Championships this year.
It took only 36 hours for generous readers to make a 14-year-old's dream of representing her country at an international chess tournament in Albania come true.
Imkhitha Joya became the South African U14 girls' chess champion after an unbeaten run at the Junior Closed Chess Championships this year. But a lack of funding has hampered her access to the international tournaments that could help her improve her chess rating.
Her coach started a BackaBuddy for her, and the response has been marvellous.
By Friday, Imkhitha surpassed the R100 000 target after news houses like News24, EWN, Good Things Guy and IOL all reported on her story. After News24's story alone, the figure jumped by R70 000 in 36 hours this week.
See Imkhitha's BackaBuddy campaign
The Nyanga child is one of South Africa's brightest young chess talents and has earned national recognition and international invitations – some of which she had to turn down due to a lack of funding. This year alone, Imkhitha was unable to represent South Africa at the African Individual Chess Championships, African Schools Championships, and FIDE Youth Olympiad.
Her coach and mentor, Thando Hlakula, said those missed opportunities have been some of the toughest parts of her journey.
READ | This Nyanga teen is SA's U14 girls' chess champ. Now she needs help to play overseas
Now, she has been invited to represent South Africa at the World Youth Chess Championships in Albania in October and the African Youth Chess Championships in Algeria in December. To get to Albania, Imkhitha needed to raise R94 000, and generous South Africans banded together to make her dreams possible.
Donations ranged from R15 000 to R50, with donors all wishing the young chess star well on her way to becoming a Grand Master – starting with her next international tournament, the World Youth Chess Championships in Albania in October.
One donor, called Marlene, said:
My late husband would be very proud of you, as he was a provincial chess player for WP.
Another BackaBuddy donor added: 'You go, girl! You're a real Super Champ! Go out and get your medal!'
Donor Megan Swart, who gave R50, said: 'I don't have much to give, but I believe in you and [I'm] so proud of how far you have come. Go get them, girl! Make South Africa proud!'
Social media users also threw their support behind Imkhitha.
On Instagram, Wendy Lee Mitchell said: 'Not just beautiful! Brains too! Well done, baby girl! I hope the government doesn't let you down!'
Hlakula said that he had been left completely speechless by the outpouring of support.
'I don't even know what to say. I'm so happy, and it means so much. Now, Imkhitha just has to worry about playing chess, because the money is taken care of. We're very grateful,' he said.
At the time of publication, Imkhitha was competing in an all-expenses-paid tournament in Russia and was not aware of the outpouring of support.
'I will wait until she gets back to South Africa to tell her,' said Hlakula.
'I don't like to bring up money and let her worry about it, especially when her focus should be on the chess competition. I'm sure she will want to make a video to say thank you.'
News24 previously reported that earlier this year, Imkhitha was crowned South African U14 girls' chess champion after an unbeaten run at the Junior Closed Chess Championships. Her CHESSA rating stands at 1811, making her the top-ranked U14 girl and sixth overall among female players in South Africa.
Imkhitha's story began in 2020 when she was introduced to chess through a school programme at Isigcawu Primary. She fell in love with the game almost immediately.
Hlakula encouraged Imkhitha to compete in her first tournament three months after she joined the chess club, and despite losing all her matches, Imkhitha took to the sport with a passion. Some days, she trains for up to eight hours.
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