Malaysian Chess: Paralympics

From Bernama.com: August 14, 2009 16:57 PM Paralympic: Chess Squad Eyes Six Gold KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- The national paralympic chess squad is determined to collect six gold medals in the B1 (blind) category at the 5th Asean Para Games (KL'09), starting tomorrow. Chief coach Abdul Latif Mohammad said it was not impossible for the team to collect six of the 16 gold medals up for grabs in the category. "We have experienced chess players, among them are those who won medals in the Asean Para Games in Korat, Thailand last year," he told Bernama here today. Abdul Latif said among the promising chess players in the national squad are Mah Hassan Omar (silver medallist at the Korat Para Games 2008), Idris Mat Saman (silver, Asean Para Games Manila 2005), Muira Mukri (gold, Asean Para Games Korat 2008) and three newcomers Amir Shamsuddin, Liyanah Abdul Hamid and Teo Suat Mui.On the B2 (impaired vision) category, Abdul Latif said, it would be tough to win medals judging from the Korat games which was monopolised by the Philippines with six gold and two bronze medals."Still, it does not mean we are not capable for a gold medal in the category," he said.The chess squad comprises 16 players, competing in the B1, B2 and B3 (partially-impaired vision) categories.