J&K Bank chess player, Atul Kumar Gupta, won laurels for the J&K State and the Bank when he finished jointly on first place in the recently concluded Bangkok Challenger International Chess tournament. 108 players from 23 countries including U.S.A., Russia, China, France ,England etc. participated in the championship.
The tournament was organized by Bangkok chess club under the aeiges of World Chess Federation at five star Dusit Thani hotel at Pattaya beach from April 15 -21, 2013.
As 5 players tied on same 6 points after seven rounds, Atul was declared second through after tie breaker bucklouz system where opponents score is considered.
Executive President and Chairman of the J&K Bank Sports Board, Abdul Hamid Banday, congratulated Atul for achieving this feat and adding name and fame to the Bank in the international sports arena. "We are grateful to our chairman Mushtaq Ahmad who showed keen interest in the development of sports in the state. He revamped the Bank's sports board in 2010 and infused new blood in the sports activities of the Bank. It was under his directions, we launched talent hunt initiatives in different sports, especially in football to tap the budding talent and simultaneously bring more professionalism in various games," said the bank's sports board chairman.
Meanwhile, Atul Kumar Gupta said, "Credit for my performance goes to the top management of the Bank who always encourage sports persons."
Baldev Raj Secretary All J&K Chess Association has also congratulated Atul and said that his performance will motivate young players of the state.