Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar inaugurated Punjab Open Chess Championship, the biggest chess event of Punjab, at the Nishtar Park Sports Complex gymnasium hall on Friday night by playing exhibition chess match against U-12 Punjab Junior Rapid Champion Raja Ihtamur Rehman.
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muhammad Ali, Director General Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab Muhammad Tariq Qureshi, Vice Chairman SBP Suleman Malik, Director Admin Abid Shaukat, Director Sports Rana Nadeem Anjum and officials from Punjab Chess Association were also present on this occasion.
The 2-day Punjab Open Chess Championship is being held under the aegis of Punjab Sports Department.
As many as 350 male and female players are participating in the Punjab Open Chess Championship. 104 players participated in the master category while 108 players participated in the under-16 boys and girls category. Similarly, more than 188 players showed their skills in the amateur category.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Provincial Sports Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that chess is a game that improves mental skills and develops decision-making, patience and strategic abilities in the youth.
Punjab Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar announced to construct a multi-storey sports complex for mind games at the Nishtar Park Sports Complex. "The said sports complex will be equipped with all modern sports facilities".
Punjab Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that Punjab Sports Department will take all possible measures to promote chess and other mind games among the younger generation. "The game of chess will also be included in the next editions of Khelta Punjab Games and Pink Games."
Punjab Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said that the next chess event will be many times bigger than this one and the same case will be with the cash prizes.
Punjab Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the sports of Punjab province is going in the right direction in accordance with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. "Demonstrating wonderful performance, Punjab province secured first position among all provinces in the last editions of National Games and Quaid-e-Azam Inter-provincial Games".
Punjab Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said that Punjab government is providing maximum opportunities to the talented youth to exhibit and polish their sports skills. "The talented athletes of any game are true asset for the country and Punjab government will extend full support to such male and female athletes".
Punjab Minister for Sports Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar said that the Punjab Chess Association and the Sports Board Punjab will jointly promote the game of chess in all parts of the province. "The top performing athletes of chess will be enrolled in the Punjab Sports Endowment Fund."
He said that practical steps are being taken for the promotion of sports across the province according to the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He said that attracting the youth towards positive activities is one of the priorities of the government and a healthy environment is being provided to the young generation by establishing top standard sports infrastructure.
He said that Punjab Sports Department has made special arrangements for refreshments and Sehri for all participating players and free accommodation facility for players coming from other cities.
He said that the youth of Punjab have immense potential and the government is taking all possible steps to guide and mentor them. He said that such events not only provide an opportunity to the players to showcase their skills but also provide a platform to highlight the name of Pakistan at the international level.
Punjab Minister for Sports Faisal Ayub Khokhar further said that the Punjab government is giving special attention to the improvement of infrastructure, coaching facilities and organizing tournaments for the promotion of sports so that the youth can be engaged in positive and healthy activities. He expressed his determination that in the future too, competitions in other sports, including chess, will be organized on a larger scale.
According to first day's results, at the end of the three rounds in the Master Category, Mohayyidin Gilani, Zuraiz Shabkhaiz, Waqas Dogar, Luqman Baig, Shahbaz Ahmed, Syed Zain Nasir and Sibt e Ali are on the top tables with three points each.
M Umair, Zainur Rehman, Babar Fawad Ahmed, M Sajid and M Bilal Amjad excelled in the Amateur category.
In the U-16 Boys and Girls category, Ayan Tauqeer, Saifur Rahman Muhammad, Chaudhry Yasir Rizwan and Noor Fatima Rashid demonstrated wonderful form and reached the next stage of competition.