Kathmandu: Nepal hosted its first chess tournament for visually impaired children at the National Cooperative Federation in Lalitpur, marking an important step toward inclusive sports.
Speaking at the programme, German Ambassador to Nepal Udo Volz said that in the past, chess grandmasters trained by playing without seeing the board to sharpen their memory and skills. He also highlighted the daily challenges faced by visually impaired people, noting the importance of creating inclusive opportunities.
The tournament was jointly organised by Pavilions Chess Academy and Nepal Tribisa Sanstha, with financial support from the German Embassy in Kathmandu. The event was officially recognised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the National Sports Council, and the Nepal Chess Federation. The organisers said the event would not have been possible without the support of 20 volunteers who assisted the participants.
More than 50 children took part in the two-day tournament, which was supervised by some of Nepal’s leading chess players. Winners were awarded trophies in the presence of the Mayor of Lalitpur and representatives of the German Embassy.
According to the organisers, the winners will be given opportunities to compete in international tournaments. On the occasion, the Mayor of Lalitpur pledged to improve local infrastructure to enhance accessibility for people with visual impairments.
