‘There isn’t a tradition of chess in north India’: Vantika Agarwal speaks bitter reality as she awaits invites to top-tier tournaments

Vantika Agarwal, who not too long ago received the celebrated Arjuna Award, has opened up on the challenges she confronted in her journey to the highest and why the northern a part of India nonetheless wants consciousness relating to chess. In her current interview with the Instances of India, Vantika touched upon varied topics together with how her love affair with the sport started and why she nonetheless hasn’t acquired invites to elite tournaments.

Vantika Agarwal shares her journey to the highest

Vantika reportedly got here throughout chess by chance. She and her brother stumbled into the chess room throughout their college’s zero interval and bought hooked on the sport. Vantika shortly persuaded her mom to enroll them on the Genius Chess Academy in Noida. She began coaching with native coaches earlier than taking steerage from grandmasters like Praveen Thipsay, Tejas Bakre, and Vishnu Prasanna.

“Earlier than chess, I used to be concerned in a whole lot of actions, like skating, dancing, music, artwork, cricket, and extra. I imply, I used to be taking part in every kind of sports activities and fascinating in these actions. After my first match win, I by no means seemed again,” Vantika was quoted as saying by TOI.

Vantika additionally talked in regards to the challenges she has confronted and continues to come across. She highlighted how many individuals in north India stay unaware of chess, reflecting the stark distinction in chess tradition in comparison with south India.

“The problem that I confronted is like (one) I’m nonetheless going through. In north India, there isn’t a tradition of chess. Within the south, you’ve got academies, however right here, no tradition. If somebody asks what you do, and also you say, ‘I’m a chess participant,’ their response is often, ‘Okay, however what do you really do? What are you finding out?’ I believe it’s nonetheless the identical story, even after profitable so many medals. Folks nonetheless ask, ‘Chess is ok, however what do you actually do?” she stated.

Undeterred by these obstacles, Vantika stays targeted on proving herself by way of participation in each attainable open match. She has but to obtain invites to top-tier tournaments however her final objective is evident, to collaborate with high Indian and worldwide grandmasters to refine her sport.

“I received two gold medals on the Olympiad, however I’m nonetheless not getting invites to top-tier tournaments,” she added.

Vantika can be focussing on turning into a grandmaster and crossing the 2500 score. As of February 2025, Vantika’s FIDE score is 2411.