For a long time I wanted to write something and
create awareness in the SL chess community about the Visually impaired chess
players of Sri Lanka.
Most of us do not have the faintest idea that
such 'visually handicapped' players exist in Sri Lanka. That includes most of
the National players who have played against IBCA in the Olympiads.
Recently I (along with Marlon Fernando) had the
good fortune of assisting the preparation of three Sri Lankan players who
represented Sri Lanka at IBCA Asia Pacific Chess Championship for Visually
Challenged, 2017 held in India.
Few simple words of encouragement would also
mean a great deal for Visually handicapped players. Also please note some of
them learned to play chess AFTER they became completely blind, which is
something incredible. (Most of them are soldiers who fought the war and lost
their precious eye sight due to explosions)
The leader of our Visually handicapped Chess
team Mr Tuan Rushdi Cassim has following message to our chess community. In his
message he discusses the need for them to play in regular tournaments in order
to improve. I implore all our International rated tournament organizers to
consider his request and provide them with an opportunity. (FIDE rules allow
Visually handicapped players to play in regular tournaments)
"Chess is the only sport a visually
impaired player can play with a sighted player with an equal-ground. Chess for
the visually impaired first started in Sri Lanka in early 2000’s. The Sri
Lankan national visually impaired Chess team has represented the country in the
Asia Pacific Chess Championship for Visually Challenged in the year 2003 and
2017. There are about 40 visually impaired Chess players in Sri Lanka. As a
member of the visually impaired national Chess team I feel that, the best way
to improve Chess for the visually impaired in Sri Lanka is to give us an
opportunity to play in some tournaments organised for the sighted Chess
players. This will help our players to get tournament practice and to get
ratings"
