LAHORE: A 10-member chess team from Pakistan, consisting of five men and five women, will depart for Budapest, Hungary, on Tuesday to compete in the World Chess Olympiad from September 10 to 12.

The event will feature participants from 190 countries, according to Hanif Qureshi, president of the Pakistan Chess Federation. Hanif also mentioned that visas for two players are still pending, but the federation is hopeful they will be issued before departure. Non-playing members Sal­im Akhtar and Shujjat Ali will accompany the team.

The men’s team includes Mafaaz Khalid, Amir Kar­im, Momin Fayzan, Moha­mmad Luqman, and Muda­ssar Iqbal. The women’s team features Sahiba Shah, who will receive special assistance from the World Chess Federation due to her disability. The federation will provide a mover to help her with the chess pieces.

Other members of the women’s team are Zan­oobia Wasif, Mahak Gul, Sehrish, and 12-year-old Ayat Asmi who has secured a place in the senior team after defea­ting several senior players.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2024