Nine-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan faces racist backlash after making England chess team
Nine-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan is making waves in the world of chess as the youngest-ever to represent England at a major international sporting event. Despite her impressive achievements, she and her family have faced disturbing racist comments online.
The Sivanandans, who do not own a TV and are not active on social media, were shocked to see the vile reactions following Bodhana’s selection for the England team at the chess Olympiad. Comments about her skin color, appearance, and demands for her to leave the country flooded a BBC post about the news.
Bodhana’s father, Sivanandan, shared with HT, “We didn’t let it affect us because we realize there’s no pleasing everyone. It’s like the folktale of man, son, and donkey. There will always be people who make comments, whether they believe she should play for India or not play for England.”
Despite the negativity, Bodhana is focused on her chess career and made a strong debut at the Olympiad in Budapest with a win in Round 1. Her talent has even intimidated fellow players, with nine-time British women’s chess champion Jovanka Houska admitting that many are “terrified of playing her.”
Bodhana’s journey into chess began during the pandemic when her father’s friend gave them a chess set. Since then, she has excelled in the game, becoming an Under-8 world champion and impressing even the greatest female chess player, Judit Polgar.
While some may question pulling Bodhana out of formal school for chess, her father believes in the importance of a well-rounded education and social interactions. Despite the demands of raising three children, including Bodhana’s twin sisters, Sivanandan is dedicated to supporting his daughter’s chess aspirations.
With dreams of becoming a world champion and the youngest Grandmaster, Bodhana remains humble and focused on improving her game. Her neutral reaction to wins and losses, both on and off the chessboard, reflects her maturity and determination to succeed in the competitive world of chess.