ZIMBABWE will this year send a team of 36 athletes and seven officials to next month’s FIDE World Youth chess Championships to be held in Durban, South Africa.
KUDAKWASHE MATIZANADZO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The event, which is expected to attract some 3 000 international participants, will run from September 18 to 30th of the same month.
The students, comprising of 30 secondary school pupils and six primary school pupils were selected from the country’s 10 provinces at the national chess youth championships held at Harare’s Prince Edward School in February.
The competition is for girls and boys under the age of eight, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 and Zimbabwe coach Blessing Jemani, said the country will be represented in all categories.
“There will be three age categories for primary schools and the same number for secondary schools. We expect all travelling members to be in camp by September 13,” Jemani said.
The youth championships which come to Africa for the first time is expected to register a record participants following the indication of interest by most countries which did not take part in last year’s edition in Dubai.
“We expect the Durban championships to realise more participants than last year because a lot of countries have shown interest in competing at the championships,” Jemani added.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Last year, Zimbabwe sent a team of 26 including officials and this time the number increased to 43 indicating the growing popularity of the sport in the country.
The Zimbabwe team is not short of experience with Under- 16 girls’ national champion Cynthia Nyashanu of the Midlands province having participated in the 2012 Poland championships and 2013 Dubai championships.
Nyashanu is optimistic the experience she gained will help her make an impression at this year’ championships.
“The previous two editions were a learning curve for me and now I think I am ripe.
“I was still young and a bit nervous in the previous editions but at this year’s finals, I am confident of leaving a mark.” Nyashanu said.
Jemani said they were appealing to the corporate world to chip in and help with money for airfares, national regalia, accommodation and registration fees which ranges between $590 and to $1 800.
India emerged overall winners at last year’s championships with three gold medals, two silver and three bronze medals while China was second with three gold medals with the Russian Federation coming third with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
Some of the countries who are expected to send their athletes to the championships include England, Germany, Slovenia, US, Iran, Iraq, Slovenia, South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Zambia and Bosnia.
