NAIROBI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's national chess champion, Riya Shah, 16, is writing a book for beginners in order to help them improve their play and nurture... more
NAIROBI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's national chess champion, Riya Shah, 16, is writing a book for beginners in order to help them improve their play and nurture upcoming talent in the East African nation.
The book, which will be released soon, will be distributed to young Kenyans from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with the aim of demystifying a game previously thought to be meant only for societal elites.
"This is my contribution to giving back to society by sharing my experience to promote the game through the book," Shah told Xinhua on Sunday.
The book is part of a project at Aga Khan Academy in Nairobi where Shah is in Year 11.
Shah has scaled the heights of chess, beginning in 2013 at the age of 13. In April, she won the country's first medal in the sport in 36 years when she finished in third place during the Africa 4.2 Zonal championships held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Shah scored six out of nine points to win the bronze medal behind two Egyptian opponents... less