Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD (October 21, 2021):-Secretary, Islamabad Chess Association (ICA), Malik Mohammad Ameen has revealed on Thursday that chess association of capital city would start a series of chess fixtures at universities level aiming to give an occasion to budding chess players and to select the young talented guys from grass root level and It would be started from International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) next month.
During a special meeting with www.sports-bulletin.com correspondent, national chess player, Malik Ameen further said that he had a meeting with the IIUI administration. “All things have been settled and we will organize the event in well benefitted manners in collaboration with Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP). After this, a series of chess competitions will kick off in the different universities of twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad, “he added.
To a question, he said that CFP was competent to host the top international chess events in Pakistan, which would be helpful to boost up the soft image of the country all over the world. “It is a fact that we cannot organize any international event without the government's support and cooperation. Chess federation has a good reputation at international level. If the government will support us we will manage the international events on the soil of Pakistan, “he maintained.
“For staging an international chess there is no need for big security, as it is an indoor game and all things can be managed safely. At this time, unfortunately, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) is not even ready to recognize CFP and his efforts for the promotion of the game in Pakistan. I will not want to make more comments on this issue because the case is in the Islamabad High Court. We are affiliated with the World and Asian chess organizations, “he said.
To another regarding the government support, Malik Ameed said: “The conditions of sports are miserable all over the county and the standard is going down day by day. The performance of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) is also very grim like other government institutes and no one is ready to listen there. We told all the facts to top officials of PSB but we are still waiting for its affiliation. New Director PSB is not well aware about the sports issues, “he lamented.
Responding to another question, Malik divulged that in 80s Landa Bazar was the hub of the chess players in Rawalpindi. Everyone was enjoying the game at a local hotel after closing their daily business. “It is said that chess was the game of kings but it has become the game of the common man too. People are keen to play chess under the banner of any organization. Politics hurt the chess brutally, as we were running the chess very well and smoothly but some unknown people established another parallel body. We organized a lot of tournaments and provided opportunities to budding players to excel at national and level, “he concluded.
