JOHOR BARU: Mohd Afif Md Nasir, a father of five children with autism, has discovered the power of chess in bringing positive changes to his kids. One of his children, Ainul Mardhiah Mohd Afif, has even excelled in the game and won competitions.
Ainul Mardhiah used to struggle with anxiety and concentration, but everything changed two years ago when her father encouraged her to try online educational games during the Covid-19 lockdown. Through playing chess, the 13-year-old found a passion for the game and started participating in online competitions for fun.
Mohd Afif, a businessman, expressed his happiness over Ainul Mardhiah’s interest in chess. She not only came out tops in school competitions but also triumphed at the district and state levels as well.
Mohd Afif encourages his children to excel in chess. — Bernama
Realizing Ainul Mardhiah’s potential, her parents decided to enroll her in a chess academy where she receives online coaching.
Ainul Mardhiah, a student of the Integrated Special Education Programme at SMK Datin Onn Jaafar in Batu Pahat, now dedicates four hours daily to train and practice chess.
Her hard work paid off when she secured third place in the female category of the eighth Johor International Chess Tournament. Despite competing against more experienced opponents, Ainul Mardhiah won four games and drew two out of the nine played.
According to Mohd Afif, Ainul Mardhiah’s success can be attributed to her strength in pattern recognition, which is enhanced by her autism.
In addition to her online classes, Ainul Mardhiah practices chess with her four siblings, who have also taken up the game.
Mohd Afif emphasized that chess has brought positive changes in all of his children. The game improves their focus, helps them complete tasks, and reduces social anxiety due to its minimal requirement for verbal communication. He hopes to inspire other special needs children to explore chess.
Mohd Afif revealed that Ainul Mardhiah’s next goal is to represent Johor in the Malaysian Schools Sports Council championship and ultimately represent Malaysia on the international stage.
Peter Long, the head of the Johor International Chess Tournament media and publication committee, who is also a long-time chess coach, commended Ainul Mardhiah’s performance and described her as an up-and-coming player to watch.
Long emphasized the importance of nurturing chess talents in Malaysia, suggesting the establishment of a national chess training program similar to those in Vietnam, Singapore, and other regional countries.
The tournament featured 79 players from countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, and China.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
