CBSE South Zone-I Girls Chess Championship Begins in Visakhapatnam

The CBSE South Zone-I Girls Chess Championship 2026 began on Friday at Visakha Valley School, Visakhapatnam, with 74 teams and 298 players competing across four age categories: under-11, under-14, under-17, and under-19. Participants hail from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The event adheres to guidelines set by FIDE and CBSE.

Strong Support for Grassroots Sports

Inaugurating the championship, M.D. Ramesh Kumar, Director of the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh, highlighted the importance of grassroots competitions in identifying and nurturing talent. He praised Visakhapatnam’s conducive sporting environment and expressed optimism about the city hosting more national-level events in the future.

Focus on Holistic Development

Naresh Kumar, CEO of Symbiosis, emphasized the role of chess in fostering lateral thinking, emotional stability, and sportsmanship among students. He also urged parents and schools to prioritize the health of girl students by monitoring key parameters such as haemoglobin, vitamin B12, and vitamin D levels.

Green Campus and Enhanced Facilities

D.S. Varma, head of AM/NS India Vizag and a governing body member of Visakha Valley School, shared the institution’s vision of transforming the campus into a green space while utilizing open areas to develop better sports facilities.

Championship to Conclude on July 26

The chess championship, which is hosting 80% of its participants on campus, will feature six rounds of competition before concluding on July 26.

Source: The Hindu