India hosts chess tournament for blind competitors

From The Times of India:

MYSORE, India -- Here's a chance for the visually-impaired to compete alongside other chess players.

Global Trust for the disabled will organize a three-day state-level chess championship for the visually-challenged persons from September 4.

Trust secretary Deepak told reporters that this is the first of its kind tournament. Karnataka's representation at the south zone chess championship for the blind is poor when compared to other south Indian states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The south zone championship is conducted once a year. Twenty-five players, including five girls, will be selected for the national B championship. This year, four, including Trust president Lingaraju, Shashidhar, Mallikarjun and Srinivas, have been selected for the National B championship from the state, he added.

Deepak said over 100 entries have been received from Bangalore, Belgaum, Mangalore, Tumkur and Shimoga. A minimum of 200 are expected for the tournament scheduled between September 4 and 6.

Trust's president Lingaraju, 33, a visually-challenged person, claims this is the only sport where a blind person can take a normal person head-on. "However, due to lack of awareness, the blind persons are not keen on learning it," he said.