Celebrating International Chess Day with Inclusivity: Kolkata Hosts All Bengal Rapid Chess Tournament for Persons with Disabilities

The Kolkata Center for Creativity (KCC) in Kolkata made history by hosting the first-ever All Bengal Rapid Chess Tournament for persons with disabilities on International Chess Day, July 20. The event aimed to promote inclusivity and provide a platform for visually and hearing-impaired players to showcase their skills in the game of chess.

One of the participants, 24-year-old visually impaired chess player Bikas Kumar Sinha from the Asansol Braille Academy, expressed his excitement at being part of the tournament. Sinha aspires to pursue a career in chess professionally and even dreams of competing in the Olympics one day. His teacher-in-charge, Abhijit Mandal, highlighted the importance of such events in helping students improve their game while balancing their studies.

Suravi Dutta, International Arbiter, emphasized the need for inclusivity in sports and games, stating that everyone deserves equal opportunities to showcase their talent. The visually impaired participants at the event showed support for each other through sign language and shared hugs and smiles, reflecting the true spirit of sportsmanship.

The event also saw the launch of a Braille Library at KCC, providing visually impaired individuals with access to tactile art pieces and Braille books on art. Ms. Richa Agarwal, Chairperson of KCC, expressed her enthusiasm for the event and emphasized the importance of creating inclusive spaces for individuals with disabilities.

Overall, the All Bengal Rapid Chess Tournament at KCC was a celebration of talent, inclusivity, and community spirit, showcasing the determination and passion of visually and hearing-impaired players in the game of chess.