Players with disabilities checkmate odds with chess spirit
Panaji:
It's not winning but taking part that counts.
It's a maxim made famous by the founder of the Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who said, 'The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.
'
Nowhere were the words more apt than at the World Chess Championship for Persons with Disabilities at Dona Paula, which ended on Wednesday. Just getting here, and taking part, was an achievement for many of the players.
'I got to learn a lot,' V S Sobethaa, a 12-year-old player with locomotor disability, told TOI. 'My dream is to become a grandmaster (the highest title in the sport), so I make it a point to train at least two hours every day.
Chess provides me with a lot of joy.'
For many like Sobethaa, who hails from Tamil Nadu, chess is more than just a sport. It helps her assimilate, and like she did at Dona Paula, win plaudits too. The youngster picked up a silver in rapid (U-15 category) and bronze in blitz. No wonder her twin, V S Shokshithaa, admitted that her sister was the better player.
There were other 'success' stories too. Take Eshmuratov Abbas for example.
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On a wheelchair, the player from Uzbekistan plays by indication of moves through movement of his retinas, with his father holding his chin for support.
Abbas soon became the star attraction at the tournament with several people flocking to the venue to see him play. He had an impressive five wins from nine rounds and finished 35th among 97 participants.
His achievement did not go unnoticed as chief minister
Pramod Sawant
handed him a special prize.
Khlypovka Lada, a teenager from Russia, also proved to be a fine example of grit and determination. She missed four rounds due to surgery and hospitalisation, yet playing five rounds from her hotel bed, she maintained incredible focus to maintain an all-win record and pick up gold in the women's wheelchair category. She left Goa for the airport in an ambulance.
'It is only because of my love and respect for the participants that I made time to attend this special ceremony, even while the assembly session is in progress,' said CM Sawant.
'I congratulate all the winners, participants, and support teams from across the globe for showcasing determination and excellence throughout the championship.'
FIDE flag countries comprising Russia and Belarus won 21 medals, which included 12 golds, to finish on top. India also picked up 21 medals but with just five golds had to settle for the second spot, ahead of Kazakhstan (nine medals, two golds) who finished third.
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