NANJING: The second Mind Sports Games of Jiangsu have kicked off in Zhenjiang, a city in China’s eastern coastal province.
With a focus on testing mental strength rather than physical prowess, the event features competitions such as chess, bridge, Rubik’s Cube, darts and card games. 109 teams from Jiangsu have registered in the games which will see over 3,000 participants, including athletes, coaches, and referees.
The quadrennial event exhibits the development of mass mind sports across Jiangsu, said Zhou Lingmei, an official of the provincial sports department. She said that the games have participants as old as 75, and as young as five.
“Students can enhance their memory and thinking abilities by playing chess, which is why chess games are well received among students and parents,” she added.
Chess courses have been introduced by many primary and secondary schools in Jiangsu.
Darts is also gaining popularity among college students in the province, with over 40 universities in Jiangsu offering darts courses.
