KUCHING, Jan 5: The winners of the Second Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled leg held here will represent Sarawak as a team at the grand finals in Kuala Lumpur later this year.
However, the team is still short of funds to cover expenses and to compete in the championship, revealed Lions Club region 1 chairwoman Helena Lim when met by reporters at the event today.
She appealed to Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah for funds from her ministry to sponsor the ten winners who will be competing in the finals in Kuala Lumpur.
Fatimah was the guest-of-honour at the closing ceremony for the competition here today.
Meanwhile, Lim disclosed that the Second Malaysia Lions International English Chess Championship for the Disabled was organised to generate public awareness that people with special needs possess positive characters, a strong spirit of sportsmanship, competitiveness, self-discipline and confidence.
Lim added the event also provided people who shared a common passion in international chess to get together and to compete in the spirit of true sportsmanship.
By participating in chess competitions, people with special needs can further develop their cognitive, intellectual, and psychomotor skills as well as their spiritual dimension.
“We have visually, aurally and physically challenged participants from Miri, Sibu, Sarikei, Serian, Kuching and Balingian.
“Through chess, one is able to enhance self-development as one is able to plan his or her moves.
“Our special participants might be disadvantaged in certain ways, but they have other faculties which they can develop and utilise to optimise the quality of their lives,” she said.
The chess competition this evening was won by Termizi Yusuf, 64. Twenty-three people with special needs took part in the competition. — DayakDaily
