In yet another move to popularise chess among tribal children, the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Bhadrachalam, has initiated a programme to impart coaching to the students of Tribal Welfare Ashram High Schools (TWAHS) across the erstwhile united Khammam district.
For the purpose, the ITDA has roped in the services of noted chess player Gopikrishna and his team to conduct chess coaching classes in around 70 TWAHSs spread across Bhadradri-Kothagudem and Khammam districts.
The initiative follows a two-day district-level chess tournament held in Bhadrachalam in the second week of August. Over 150 tribal students of the tribal welfare educational institutions from across the erstwhile Khammam district had taken part in the event.
The idea of promoting chess among tribal children was conceived by ITDA Project Officer V.P. Gautham.
Thanks to Mr. Gautham’s initiative, the ITDA conducted a special chess coaching camp for the winners and runners of the tournament under the aegis of Mr. Gopikrishna at Palvancha last month, sources said.
A team headed by Mr. Gopikrishna has so far conducted chess coaching camps in around 17 TWAHS in both the districts in coordination with the ITDA Sports Officer P. Shankaraiah in the past few weeks.
The idea is to introduce the students of the tribal welfare educational institutions to chess and make the game popular in the predominantly tribal populated district, said Mr. Gopikrishna.
“Our endeavour is to make the students familiar with all the aspects of chess and master the game,” he said, adding that the coaching involves display of live chess games on LCD projectors apart from making the students practice the game.
The initiative would not only help spot and nurture the budding chess talents, but foster critical thinking and cognitive skills among schoolchildren thereby improving their academic performance, he noted.
