Headed for world juniors, chess champ Priyanka Kalidas faces funds concern

CHENNAI: For Priyanka Kalidas, winning the national U-17 girls' chess championship was a big moment for different reasons. First, this maiden national title fulfilled her ambition of winning a real, big trophy! That's a reason she took up chess.

"When I was young, I used to participate in various competitions... music, dance, fancy dress. But whenever I got a prize, the trophy would be very small. And I saw people getting bigger trophies in chess. Hence I started playing chess. Then I got interested and hooked on to the game, started loving it. Now it's become my passion," revealed the XIth standard student of Chinmaya Vidyalaya MHS School, Coimbatore.

However, realising dreams and pursuit of excellence comes with added concerns. Scheduled to play the World Junior Championship in Italy later in November, Priyanka doesn't have a sponsor. "I will be playing in the World Junior Championship. I have no regular sponsor. I will be asking friends and well wishers to support me. My role model is Judit Polgar of Hungary. My aim is to become a Grandmaster as soon as possible," Priyanka said.

After starting to play the game when she was eight and making the right moves in her quest to become a Grandmaster, Priyanka lost her her father five years ago. The youngster has overcome the tragedy and shown steely resolve to keep her and her father's dream alive.

"I enjoyed playing in the national U-17 championship and had some good games, which helped me win this title. Feeling extremely happy, as this is my first national title," said Priyanka. Her best show so far has been gold in the Commonwealth U-16 girls' championship in New Delhi this year.

In order to improve her game and move up the ranking ladder, she has been training under noted coach and Grandmaster RB Ramesh for the last four years. "I was first coached by K Dhanasekar. For the last few years, Ramesh sir is coaching me. My strength is I play reasonably well in attacking and complicated positions. I need to improve on positional chess and am working on it,'' said Priyanka.

She thanks her family for standing by her in her bid to excel in the competitive world. "I am not part of any academy at the moment. After my father's demise in 2012, my mother K Maruthambal, grandmother M Ramalakshmi and maternal uncle KV Sridhar have been a pillar of support for me,'' said the teenager, who wants to become an IAS officer later in life.

ashok.v@newindianexpress.com