Over 150 para-athletes across the country will compete in the 2021 Philippine Sports Commission – Pilipinas Para Games (PPG) Online Chess Competition which starts on Nov. 19.
“We are launching this project in our effort to continue efforts to address our need for a truly comprehensive grassroots sports development program for our para-athletes, and continuously harness their full potential,” PSC Oversight Commissioner for para-athletes Arnold Agustin said.
Originally staged in three regional legs, the online chess competition will now be held in one nation-wide event, on six categories namely, Visually Impaired B1 Completely Blind Men, Visually Impaired B1 Completely Blind Women, Visually Impaired B2 Partially Blind Men, Visually Impaired B2 Partially Blind Women, and Physically Impaired Men and Physically Impaired Women.
The PPG is also held in partnership with the Philippine Paralympic Committee and the Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists on the classification of registered para-athletes.
The competition starts on Nov. 19 via Zoom, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will conclude on Nov. 21. Winners will receive medals, certificates of excellence, and cash incentives.
To prepare the national para coaches and technical officials for this competition, a Para-Chess Online Technical Workshop started Nov. 7. Six chess legends in GM Eugene Torre, GM Thomas Luther, GM Jayson Gonzales, IA/IO Casto Abundo, and IA/NM James Infiesto served as resource speakers.
“In a pandemic, we are focusing on chess as it appears to be one of the best solutions for our para-athletes to get themselves going again in sports,” Agustin expressed.
Registered para-athletes can complete and send their requirements to pilipinasparagames@gmail.com and its official Facebook page. The official list of participants will be announced on Nov. 12. (PSC) – bny
