Rising Stars of Indian Chess: Vaishali and Sharvaanica Inspire a New Generation of Female Players
Rising Stars of Chess: Tamil Nadu’s Vaishali and Sharvaanica Inspire a New Generation
Chennai, India – Just days after R Vaishali made headlines by qualifying for the Women’s World Championship, another young talent from Tamil Nadu has captured the spotlight on the global chess stage. Eleven-year-old A S Sharvaanica, a former world under-10 cadet champion, clinched the U12 girls’ rapid title at the FIDE World Cadet and Youth Championships in Serbia, marking a significant achievement for the state known as the heart of Indian chess.
Vaishali, at 24, stands on the brink of history herself. If she triumphs over China’s Ju Wenjun in the upcoming championship, it could ignite a wave of inspiration among young female players, much like the one created by five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand two decades ago. “When Vaishali ‘akka’ won, I was so happy. She is rooting for young players and showing us that anything is possible with hard work,” said Sharvaanica, who hails from Udayarpalayam in Ariyalur district.
Chennai’s Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, India’s first Woman Grandmaster, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the potential impact of Vaishali’s success. “If Vaishali wins the World Championship, it would be a monumental moment for women’s chess in India,” she stated. “The Candidates is a tough event, and while we’ve had challengers before, we are all hoping Vaishali can go the distance this time.”
Despite these promising developments, Vijayalakshmi cautioned that the landscape for women’s chess remains challenging. Of the 95 Grandmasters India has produced, only four are women, with Vaishali being the sole representative from Tamil Nadu. The situation is slightly better for Woman Grandmasters, with nine out of 27 hailing from the state.
“Participation in women’s chess has drastically declined over the past two decades, dropping from nearly 30% to less than 15%,” she noted. “This is concerning, especially given the overall growth of chess. We need more support and sponsorship to encourage women’s chess.”
Coach R B Ramesh, who trains Vaishali, highlighted the gender disparity in chess academies, where registration is predominantly male. However, he believes that Vaishali’s achievements could inspire a shift. “Having a world champion from India will give hope to young girls that they can also be the best in the world,” he said.
As the chess community rallies behind these young talents, figures like two-time Women’s World Rapid champion Koneru Humpy and World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh serve as role models for aspiring female players. “I hope girls will get inspired and take up chess professionally,” Vaishali remarked. “The last few years have been amazing for Indian women’s chess, and it’s encouraging to see us winning tournaments.”
In a game where the queen is the most powerful piece on the board, the future of women’s chess in Tamil Nadu and India looks promising. With rising stars like Vaishali and Sharvaanica leading the charge, the hope is that they will pave the way for a new era of female chess champions.