LAHORE – Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail has said that the Sports Board Punjab will provide all possible support to Pakistan’s chess team for their participation in international chess events.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said this while talking to members of Pakistan’s chess team here at National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday ahead of their participation in World School Chess Championship scheduled to be played in Kazakhstan from August 3 to 8, 2023.
Pakistan’s 10-member chess contingent, including eight players of U-12 (Ayat Asmi, Ashaz Hussain, Furqan and Ayad Moeed Ahmed) and U-18 (M Adil Irfan, Suleman, Abdur Rehman and Adil Rehan) age group categories and two officials (Sidra Butt and Amir Kareem), who will participate in 50-nation World School Chess Championship, were present in the meeting.
Secretary Chess Association of Punjab Raja Gohar Iqbal, Vice President Saleem Akhtar, Press Secretary Rafi Jamal and other officials were also present on this occasion. After proper trials activity, the top performing players were selected from two schools Lahore Grammar School and Learning Alliance for the grand championship.
Talking to Pakistan’s chess contingent, Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said Sports Board Punjab has always taken effective measures for the promotion of sports culture in all parts of Punjab province. “Chess is a very popular sport among the younger generation and it is being played at school level and that’s why its future is bright in the country,” he added.
The DG SBP said that Sports Board Punjab will also build a chess academy for the training of young chess players. “Our players have plenty of chess talent and we are quite upbeat that they will earn laurels in international chess events.” Dr Asif also gave gifts to young chess players and had group photographs with them.
