THE Penang state government, through the Penang State Sports Council (PSSC), will be organising a ‘Sports For All’ programme throughout next year starting with chess.
State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee said PSSC would organise a different sport each month to promote it or draw more public interest.
“The goal of this ‘Sports For All’ programme is to inculcate a healthy living habit among Penang residents,” Soon told a press conference in Komtar today.
“PSSC, with the cooperation of the Penang Schools Sports Council, the state Education Department and the Penang Chess Association (PCA), has picked ‘Chess For All’ to kick off the programme for the month of January. There will be chess and Chinese chess clinics as well as competitions.”
Also present at the press conference were PCA president See Swee Sie, PCA vice-president Tan Eng Seong, Penang Xiang Qi Association secretary P’ng Hock Theam, Prangin Mall leasing, advertising and public relations executive Stephen Loh, and assemblymen Joseph Ng (Air Itam), Daniel Gooi (Pengkalan Kota), Ong Ah Teong (Batu Lancang) and Dr Amar Pritipal Abdullah (Sungai Bakap).
See, whose association held a successful Penang Chess Festival from Dec 3 to 9, is happy that the ‘Chess For All’ is a continuation of their promotion of the game.
The ‘Chess For All’ programme will be held at the Central Mall, Level 3, Prangin Mall on Jan 13 (unrated category and below 1100 EVIZ points) and on Jan 20 (below 1,300 EVIZ points category).
The events on both days are chess and Chinese chess clinics (10am-12pm), chess competition (1pm-4pm) and Chinese chess competition (4pm-7pm).
Entries close when the organisers receive a maximum of 200 participants or two days before the competition dates.
Registration can be done online at www.penangchess.com or forms are obtainable from the Youth and Sports Office at Level 53, Komtar, or the Penang State Sports Council in Batu Uban, or the Penang Chess Association.
For further enquiries, contact Tan Eng Seong (012-2989517) or Ravi Nehemyah (012-4722807).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis