Indian chess is witnessing an inspiring transformation, driven by a wave of prodigious talents who are making their mark on the international stage. Dombaraju Gukesh has already etched his name as a worthy successor to the legendary Viswanathan Anand, but the spotlight is equally shared by rising stars like WGM Vantika Agarwal, who is redefining women's chess in India.
Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Vantika, aged 22, recently received the prestigious Arjuna Award for her stellar achievements, including an individual gold medal at the Chess Olympiad. Her track record is impressive-more than 20 international medals and over a dozen national-level accolades. Experts believe she has the potential to carry forward the rich legacy of Indian chess queens like Dronavalli Harika and Koneru Humpy.
A family of enablers
Vantika's journey is a testament to the power of family support. Despite their careers as chartered accountants, her parents, Sangeeta and Ashish Agarwal, recognised her passion early on and provided unwavering encouragement. Her elder brother, Vishesh, a chess player himself, introduced her to the game when she was just seven. Under coach Manish Uniyal's tutelage, Vantika's chess foundation was firmly established.
Her breakthrough came when she clinched the under-9 title at the Asian School Championship in Gujarat. From there, her trajectory soared, with Amity International School, Noida, offering her both academic and extracurricular support. Balancing her passion for chess with academics, she excelled in her studies, scoring above 90% in her board exams and later earning a commerce degree with distinction.
Chess Olympiad triumph
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