The National 49th Sub Junior Boys and 39th Girls Chess Tournament commenced with fervor in Jalgaon, inaugurated at Anubhuti Residential School by esteemed guests, Collector Ayush Prasad and Ashokbhau Jain.
District Collector Ayush Prasad reminisced about his student days, emphasizing the transformative power of facilities available today. Addressing the young players, he encouraged them to capitalize on these resources for holistic development. Jalgaon’s picturesque Anubhuti School set the stage for the tournament, prompting the District Collector to advise players to relish the natural surroundings.
N. G. Gadia, Secretary of Jalgaon District Chess Association, introduced the 207 athletes representing 25 states, comprising 126 boys and 81 girls. Notably, 110 boys and 76 girls are FIDE rated, promising a highly competitive sub-junior championship this year.
During the ceremony, Narayani Marathe, a six-and-a-half-year-old prodigy from Nandurbar and under seven years national champion, received accolades from dignitaries.
Mayank Chakraborty and Mritika Malik made the inaugural moves in a symbolic chess play. The event witnessed the presence of notable figures such as Ashokbhau Jain, Atulbhau Jain, and Farooq Shaikh.
