PRESS COPY: 2ND NATIONAL WOMEN SPORTS-CHESS GAMES

STANDARD CHESS AND RAPID CHESS FOR FIRST TIME IN SUKAN WANITA KEBANGSAAN 2007.

 

When one speaks of chess, most of us will think that chess is just another indoor game. But, the truth is that chess is more than that. Chess is not just a game, it also a sport being played all over world! And the fun part is that, chess is be played by all in one family and everywhere, whether at the park, picnic or at any coffee shops!

Chess is one of the oldest sports played, written records in 600AD mentioned that chess were first played in India , created by an Indian philosopher that named the game “Chaturanga”- army game. In those days in a battle between 2 armies, with the death or capture of the King the battle was over. This is very unique idea for a game where a whole array of soldiers, ministers, bishops, horses (knights) and chariots (rooks) combine their power to both defend by alternative moves on the part of 2 players. In those days they did not use a chequered board, just a plain square board. The chequered board was a much later modification.

From India chess spread all over the world. It spread west to Persia ( Iran ), to middle East and throught Spain to Europe . It spread northwards via Kashmir to China , Korea , and Japan where it took different forms but with the same principle. Eastwards it spread to the Malay Archipelago and with the coming of Islam, a period in history of civilizations, prosperity and knowledge, chess found fertile ground to grow. This was a period or renaissance for chess. During this period chess was enhanced by the recording of moves, chess problems, of course with the muslim prohibiton of graven images and forms, chess pieces began to take more aesthetic forms without images of people or animals.

During this time there were many famous women chess players, among them 3 sisters Safia, Aisha, and Zubaida the 3 grand daughters of Hisham, the first 3 of the great army of women chess players.

With the coming of chess to Europe , chess began to become more and more European game. Arounds 1475, a piece called “minister”were later change to “Queen”(because it is believed that Queen influenced a King’s in ruling better than the King’s Ministers!) Also the castling rule an en-passant rule were incorporated. After this period we see the coming of the great European Masters.

In Malaysia itself during the 70s where Malaysian Chess Federation was founded we saw the games of chess enthusiasm throughout the state. Where chess is being played by all group of people as oldest as above 80 years old, and as young as 5 years old. The famous are Malaysian Chess Federation President and real estate millionaire, Dato’ Tan Chin Nam , and Malaysia’s youngest International.
Master title holder Mas Hafizulhilmi Agus Abdul Rahman. Not just that, it is played harmoniously between all races not just in Malaysia but all over the world. The chess Olympiad that being held once in every two years holds a record of more than 120 nation participating!

Chess is the only game where women and men can play as equally and the only game where men lose mostly to women. For the first time chess is included in Sukan Wanita Kebangsaan (The Sports For Women that being organized once in every two years). There will be two types of chess that will be contested. One is called Standard Chess, which hold a time control of 90min + 10sec increment per person will be held at Kompleks Sukan Bukit Jalil from 28th May 2007- 1st June 2007 and another one is called Rapid Chess which hold a time control of 30min per person will be held at Pusat Sains Negara from 3rd June 2007- 5th June 2007.

What is standard chess? Standard chess what most people called Classical Chess. This tournament is usually being rated and where players get the chance to collect their norm for chess master title, i.e Grend Master (GM), International Master (IM), and National Women Master (NWM). This type of game is commonly played during International tournament including SEA Games, Asian Games, Chess Olympaids, or World Chess because it involves a lot thinking and strategies as it takes longer time to finish, not to mention you have to be very patient when playing and cautious not to fall to sleep while playing!.

While Rapid Chess is a short game that is enjoyed by most people as it short time. It is played everywhere in Malaysia and enjoyed by most youngsters. The reason is because, the young ones can think fast as they enjoy fast game. This type of game is being accepted worldwide and being included tournaments held in many countries ( Malaysia holds Merdeka Rapid Chess Championship annually in conjunction with merdeka celebration, and invites other nations to participate in the big event). This game involves quick thinking and fast played because time is running short! Not to mention the noise make by banging of chess clocks and chess pieces and chaotic moments!

For Sukan Wanita Kebangsaan, participants for both events are overwhelming. For Standard Chess, 200 participants will take part in the even, as for Rapid Chess more than 400 people agreed to play.This will be an interesting competition because, for the first time all chess female players will get the chance to gather around in such a big event specially made for them! It not about winning or losing but all about all the ladies chess players gathering in a big group. Players from all over states representing the state or contesting on their own tickets will be paired together and play as a family of chess.

International Chess Federation (FIDE) motto, “gens una sumus” means that “we are a family” fit to describe this coming event. The ladies are playing for their moments in life among ladies, and for ladies. All spectators’ men or women are invited to come and give support to all the ladies. Come and cheer us! Give support to your mom, sister, or your wife! All in the family.

 

Secretariat,
HASLINDAH RUSLAN
Vice Presiden
Malaysia Chess Federation

 
 

Give Midnight Sports A Go!

By Dr. Tengku Fadilah Tengku Kamalden


THE Ministry of Youth and Sports recently came under fire for introducing midnight sports especially for youth.  Scholars, often, are skeptics of new suggestions, arguing through many of their conducted research, data which shows evidence of increasing social problems i.e. mat rempit, loitering and vandalism among youth with very little, if any concrete solutions to those issues.  Any Malaysian would have noticed majority of the 24 hours restaurants are frequented by working young adults who probably worked shifts or individuals who have ‘selective insomnia’. 

The idea of midnight sports, in specific, midnight basketball, was initiated by a town manager, in Prince George’s County, in Maryland, USA named G.V.Standifer in the late 1980’s.  He was convinced that one of the keys to problematic young men from the inner city was the absence of safe, constructive activities between 10.00pm and 2.00pm.  His solution was to organize a basketball league that operates during this ‘high crime’ hours. There were 3 important components. First, he had targeted young men between the age of 17 and 21; second, no game should start before 10pm and third, uniformed police officers had to be present and visible at each game.

This concept came to national prominence in 1989 and was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America. Standifer, himself, took credit for a 30% drop in crime for the first 3 years of the program.  Sports-based programs can be viewed as a cost-effective way to implement policies as it is easily adapted to existing facilities.  Sports-based program succeed because there has always been a long-held cultural belief about sports as a positive, progressive social force. Moreover, sports has been believed to be an inherently positive, pro-social force for adolescents and young adults as well as an activity that would not only keep young people off the streets and out of trouble but would also build character, cultivate self-discipline and provide proper socialization, role models and opportunities for advancement.

The night sports-based community program has potential to generate wide and diffuse community solidarity and trust that may serve as a buffer against individualistic and antisocial sentiments and behaviors that otherwise contribute to crimes against property and community at large. With the ever many social issues among youth, the minister is only attempting to address the issues objectively in providing alternatives for the youth to channel their abundant energy positively in sports. We should not be so quick as to dismiss the community-levels effects of this midnight sports, too. Give the nocturnal energetic youth a sporting chance.  At midnight, Azalina can see a light. We should, too.
 

Aqua aerobik bersenam di dalam air

Senaman dalam air atau lebih dikenali dengan istilah aqua aerobic mungkin tidak begitu popular di negara kita. Namun di negara-negara besar seperti Amerika Syarikat, senaman ini menjadi salah satu medium utama rakyat di negara tersebut mencapai tahap kesihatan optimum.

Senaman akua tercetus apabila para pengamal kesihatan mencari penyelesaian senaman bagi golongan warga emas dan di kalangan mereka yang menghadapi masalah sendi, saraf seperti ahli sukan dan penghidap artritis.

Kebaikannya ialah pergerakannya mampu memberi kesan yang baik terhadap bahagian atas dan bawah tubuh dengan pergerakan yang minimum serta mengurangkan tekanan sendi.

Apabila berada dalam air, berat badan kita ditampung sebanyak 90 peratus, tarikan graviti berkurang dan seterusnya pergerakan yang dilakukan lebih mudah dan tidak memenatkan.

Kesan lambungan air juga memberikan impak yang sedikit terhadap warga emas, pesakit obesiti terutama terhadap sendi lutut mereka.

Namun harus diingat senaman akua ini harus dilakukan dengan suhu air dan tahap kedalaman yang betul. Suhu dalam air sekitar 24 darjah celsius adalah paling sesuai dan sebaik-baiknya ia dilakukan pada waktu pagi antara pukul 8 pagi hingga 8.45 pagi. Suhu yang terlalu sejuk pula boleh memudaratkan kesihatan manusia.

Tahap kedalaman air pula seelok-eloknya di tahap dada seseorang individu, manakala pergerakan yang sesuai dilakukan adalah seperti berjoging, melompat, pusingan (twist) dan macam-macam lagi bergantung kepada keperluan.

Bagi mereka yang ingin memiliki otot sasa juga disarankan melakukan senaman akua. Pastikan anda menggunakan pakaian yang sesuai (biasanya fabrik nilon) dan mengambil masa selama 45 minit setiap kali senaman. Ia boleh dimulakan dengan pergerakan memanaskan badan selama 15 minit, kardiovaskular dan kemudian regangan.

Lihat beberapa contoh pergerakn senaman akua yang boleh diikuti oleh mereka yang berminat.

Terima kasih kepada Persekutuan Sukan Aerobik dan Kecerdasan Antarabangsa (FISAF).