Parental support is a big part of children pursuing their passion for any sport in general and chess in particular and Mustafa Motiwala and Vishal Patodekar are an embodiment of this aspect.
Travelling from Surat to Mumbai to support their sons Miqdad and Samarth participate in the SMCA All-India FIDE-rated chess tournament, these two fathers are journeymen in their sons' pursuit of making a career in the competitive world of chess.
"It has been a very different experience. This kind of tournament my son has never played. For the first time, he is playing a FIDE tournament and that too for classical. Our goal was to bring him to Mumbai and open his rating points. Till now, he is playing well and better than expected. So far, so good. My son is 12 years and plays under-13. He regularly participates in Surat local tournaments but Mumbai for the first time,'' explained Mustafa.
Vishal's son Samarth on the other hand is a bit more experienced at FIDE-rated tournaments.
"This is not the first time. Last December, we came here for a tournament. I have travelled all over India for tournaments and here there is separate space for parents which is very good. My son is playing here and he is 15 years old. He started playing just two years back, bit late actually. Currently, he has increased 44 rating points,'' Vishal revealed.
Chess has been incorporated in the school curriculum in certain states and Vishal vouched for that in Gujarat as well.
"In some schools, chess is there in the curriculum. The state also organises a Khel Mahakumbh. There is a chess tournament there. Vantika Agrawal, who a historic gold at the Chess Olympiad, had also taken part in the Khel Mahakumbh back in the day."
Vishal further stated that his son's entry into the world of chess happened because of him.
"Actually, I play chess so he also developed an interest. He started at the age of 13. But he picked up very fast after that."
Mustafa's son started relatively early in comparison.
Samarth in action"My son started at nine. When Covid came, we were stuck at home. He did online training, sometimes he beats players ranked higher but he needs to be more consistent. In school, he is number one. In studies, he is relatively good. I've already spoken to his principal that if he participates at state-level and national level tournaments, please be flexible with his school work,'' he added.
Vishal is clear about chess being the main priority as far as his son's life is concerned.
"Chess is the main priority. So we have taken a dummy school in Maharashtra and he follows the online Cambridge curriculum and it is more of home tutoring,'' he added.
Mustafa feels chess has had ripple effects on his son's academic growth as well.
"My son's mathematics has improved a lot. So chess has helped him in developing his mind. Right now, we have not yet fully committed him into chess but ultimately the aim is for him to become a professional chess player."
With regard to training, Mustafa states Miqdad spends 4-5 hours daily on chess training and he also gets homework from his coach.
Vishal is looking forward to Samarth playing more tournaments in Mumbai in November and one in Pune in December.
You may also like
My eyes do not deceive me – Strictly's Katya pushed Wynne's wandering hand away
Sir Jim Ratcliffe facing fresh Man Utd headache after ruthless Sir Alex Ferguson call
Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, British Airways and TUI full list of new flights from UK
Chelsea sporting directors explain why they hand out enormous contracts to players
Samsung workers decide to call off strike, ready to resume work: Tamil Nadu govt
Woman, 31, died of sepsis after being left on hospital trolley for 10 hours
Asha Devi's journey: How 'Namo Drone Didi' scheme changed her life
First Direct customers could receive £3,500 in free cash
Samsung gives new tablet shoppers huge £339 freebie
Three minors among five held for gangrape of two women in Andhra
Threats play havoc: 2 international flights diverted, AI to Canada; Government promises action
Russia and China Strengthen Defence Cooperation in Key Talks
Roger Federer's ex-coach shares Rafael Nadal surprise as he makes retirement wish
State of childen's tooth decay in UK is 'truly Dickensian' amid dentistry crisis
Arne Slot and Liverpool dealt fresh fitness worry ahead of Chelsea Premier League clash
"Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will win Wayanad bypolls with record majority": Congress leader KC Venugopal
Tripura: Eight B'desh nationals, six Rohingyas held for illegally entering India
Oil market heading for big surplus: IEA
SMCA 1st All India FIDE Rating Open Chess Tournament: Atharv Soni Registers Calculative Win And In Joint Lead
BBC axes huge show after nearly three decades as host breaks silence and says 'it's depressing news'