Devnar School: 350 visually challenged give their best in Open Chess Tournament

Hyderabad: First of its kind of chess tournament was conducted for the visually challenged in Hyderabad. Over 350 visually challenged chess players aged 6-76 years from all across India participated in the fide rating national Open Chess Tournament in Hyderabad.

The event, conducted in association with the All India Chess Federation for Blind, was organized at Devnar School for The Blind, Begumpet, Hyderabad. from 30 April to 4 May.

According to the Founder Chairman of Devanar School, Dr A Sai Baba Goud, "Since 2011, we are conducting fide rating national open chess tournament for the visually challenged. Chess board used for the players is the same as for sighted except with little modifications in the high squares, and the coins used in the play white or black are also the same except a small projection on the top of the white."

In fact, the chess rules are also the same for the visually challenged. People witnessing the event were spellbound by the competitive spirit among the players.

Devnar Foundation was established in 1991 with four students in a rented room. Within a span of 17 years, the school has grown to its present stature, with 550 students housed in a three-storied building owned by the Foundation. The school was founded by Padmashree Dr. A. Saibaba Goud, a leading Ophthalmologist in India who is also the recipient of Dr. B.C. Roy National Award in 2004 for his outstanding services in the field of social medical relief. The school also has visits by politicians, bureaucrats, scientists and sportsmen, philanthropists and film stars.

Be it academics or sports, Devnar students have displayed remarkable brilliance. With 100% success in VII Class Board Exams and SSC examinations and pratibha awards for the meritorious students, the academics are at par with international standards. With representation at international levels and national levels in Cricket and Chess, Devnar students are a name to reckon with in the world of sports. The school boasts of the first computer education course in entire India. It has boarding and lodging facilities free of cost for all inmates.

At present, there are about 500 students receiving free education imparted by experienced faculty, under the State Education Board of Andhra Pradesh.