A unique chess tournament in Nagpur brought together sighted and visually impaired players aged 12 to 80. The event, conceptualised by Ashadeep Apang Mahila Bal Vikas Sanshtha and Chess Association Nagpur, featured five teams of five players each. It aimed to promote social support for the visually impaired through inclusive competition.
The tournament was inaugurated by chief guest CA Sadanand Hajare, with attendees including Amlesh Purohit from Freemasons Lodge, Ashadeep Sanstha president Dr. Pratima Shastri, and CAN working president SS Soman.
Dr. Pratima Shastri highlighted the “Saathi Haath Badhana” initiative, which provides social support to the visually impaired. She noted the competition's overwhelming response this year, with participants ranging from 12 to 80 years old.
Organised among five teams comprising 25 visually impaired and 25 sighted players, the event encouraged participation across abilities. Prominent visually challenged players included Kamlesh Manwatkar, Tijan Gawar, Sunil Dubey, and Gyaniram Gokhale. Sighted participants featured 79-year-old International Arbiter T.N. Bahadure, along with veterans Sadanand Mahajan, Umesh Gajbhiye, Pramod Ramteke, Prabhakar Patil, Sanjay Bhange, and Dilip Chepte.
In results, Tijan Gawar won the visually impaired section, with Kamlesh Manwatkar in second place. For sighted players, Sadanand Mahajan’s group took first, followed by Dilip Chepte’s group. The best sighted players on all five boards came from the Mahajan Group, while four top visually impaired spots were from the Tijan Gawar Group and one from Kamlesh Manwatkar’s.
Individual awards went to Simran Giradkar as the youngest visually impaired female player and Shivam Thakur as the child visually impaired player. Consolation prizes were awarded to Raj Kargole and Mahananda Talvekar.
At the prize distribution, chief guest Dr. Tejinder Singh Rawal from Mesonic Lodge attended. Visually impaired Education Officer Sujit Shinde delivered an inspiring speech based on his experiences. The occasion was graced by Dr. Pratima Shastri, Amlesh Purohit, and Ashadeep Sanstha mentor Shri Lalasaheb Patil.