The Zimbabwean flag is set to fly high on the international stage as the national chess team for people with disabilities (PWD) departed on Friday for the second Fide World Chess Olympiad in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The six-member delegation is poised to compete against the world's best, celebrating the power of intellect and inclusion at the prestigious event running from today to next Sunday.
The Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) held a spirited send-off press conference for the team, which is among the 35 federations invited to the second edition of the Olympiad. The team comprises four players, a team captain, and a head of delegation.
Head of delegation Jerry Moyana leads the team, with Blessing Jemani as the team captain.
The four competitive players are Prince Musokeri, Presence Murove, Kudakwashe Guvamatanga and Shantel Gweshe, the only female representative.
Speaking at the conference, Jemani expressed the team's gratitude and determination. "We are excited and we are grateful for the opportunity that we have been granted to go out and represent our country," he said.
Jemani highlighted the team’s strong preparation, which included using the recent Danhiko Paralympics Games as a critical precursor.
"Presence Murove was number one, he won the gold medal. And Kudakwashe Guvamatanga... he was third," the captain noted, underscoring the team's strong foundation.
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The squad also features the country's top-rated player for PWD, Musokeri, and the sole female competitor, Gweshe, a student at Bindura University of Science Education.
"We have four that are going to play as a team in Kazakhstan. So in Kazakhstan there are only 35 countries that were invited. And we are very grateful for the opportunity for Zimbabwe to be invited once more," Jemani added.
He also acknowledged the crucial support from the government, various ministries, and educational institutions, including Cheziya High School, Bindura University, and the University of Zimbabwe, which champion inclusivity in sports.
On preparations, Jemani confidently stated: "We are satisfied with the preparations.
We took the very best players from that event and they continued practising in their areas.
And now, yesterday (Wednesday) we had a mini-session where we had time to bond as a team and team-build.
And we can certainly say we are going there to show that we are Zimbabwe.
Gweshe, the female representative, shared her excitement, saying, "I feel very grateful and deeply honoured for being selected for the tournament."
Her sentiment was echoed by Musokeri, the highest-ranked player, who said: "We are all ready. We have been participating in various tournaments. We are hopeful and we are going to make it. And we are going to raise the flag high."
The second Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, organised by Fide and hosted by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, will be held at the highly accessible Paralympic Training Centre in Astana.
The event is a celebration of inclusion, bringing together players with visual, hearing, and physical impairments to compete as equals at the chessboard.
Zimbabwe's participation reinforces the nation’s commitment to providing a platform for all its talented citizens to shine on the world stage.
