Chandigarh Sports Department to set up two mini-chess centres

Bringing good news to local chess lovers, the Chandigarh Sports Department has decided to set up two mini-chess centres at the sports complexes in Sector 39 (first floor) and Sector 8. Work is underway at the two centres.

As many as 32 tables each will be set up at both centres. “Work at these two centres has started. We have replaced the table tennis centre with the new mini-chess centre at Sector 39. The Sector 8 complex already has space for the new chess centre. A state of art graphics gallery is also prepared at these two centres to motivate players,” said Sorabh Kumar Arora, Director, Sports, UT Administration.

Both centres are likely to be opened in the second week of February. The registration will be categorised into players and non-players (membership) and the user fee will be kept nominal.

The Sector 39 complex houses an indoor swimming pool, while the Sector 8 complex has a swimming centre and badminton coaching facility. The registration at the local coaching centres has been segregated into three categories — students, players and recreational players. These centres will be the first-ever facilities for chess coaching by the UT Sports Department. The department is also planning to recruit two coaches (as per the criteria of FIDE Ratings).

“It’s a welcome step by the UT Administration. The Indian chess has recently seen a vast popularity, especially after Gukesh Dommaraju becoming the World Champion,” said a chess player.

Felicitation function next month

Sources in the department have confirmed that the Administration is planning to organise a felicitation ceremony to award cash prizes to players. The department has received over 6,000 applications for the same, and a total of 2,800 applications have been scrutinised so far. Besides giving cash awards to local meritorious international and national sports persons for winning laurels in recent years, the department will also clear the backlog of awarding players as per the old sports policy. The ceremony is likely to take place next month and will be presided over by the UT Administrator.

In August, after a long wait of many years, the UT Administration awarded top meritorious sportspersons who had brought laurels to the city at international and national events, on the occasion of the National Sports Day. As many as 311 international and national achievers from the city were awarded cash prizes worth about Rs 4 crore at the Punjab Raj Bhawan. In February, the achievers are most likely to be awarded as per the New Sports Policy.