Page 38 - EW February 2023

Young Achievers

Kumar BM, Tanishi’s training Women Candidate Master (WCM)
has intensified to a rigorous five- title by FIDE (Federation Interna-
hour daily regime, a carbs and tionale des Echecs) — the governing
protein rich diet, and two days body of international chess tourna-
of strength and muscle condi- ments.
tioning routines per week. “I The second eldest daughter of
attribute my latest success in the Rajesh Shah, a businessman, and
National Games to my coaches homemaker Jaini Shah, Hanya took
— Madhu Sir, Yaqoob Sir and to this mind game at age seven,
Bhaskar Sir — at Dolphin Aquat- watching her father play. Soon he
ics, fitness trainer (Jyoti ma’am), began to play with her on Sunday
parents, and teachers at Inven- afternoons. Quick on the uptake in
ture who have given me great 2018, she won a bronze medal at the
flexibility to train for champion- District U-7 Girls championship fol-
ships,” acknowledges Tanishi. lowed by a silver in the Gujarat State
Though pleased with her U-7 Girls championship.
progress, this young flying Inspired by the style and tech-
mermaid is far from satisfied. “I nique of Vidit Gujrathi — India’s sec-
am a long way behind interna- ond ranked player after Viswanathan
tional timings. Therefore, I’m Anand — Hanya took to chess in
TANISHI GUPTA determined to continuously improve earnest when locked at home during
the two pandemic years. In 2021, she
my training and timings. In 2022, I
have set myself the goal of 10 percent won a gold medal at the online West-
engaluru-based pre-teen timing improvement in 100m free- ern Asian Youth Chess Champion-
Tanishi Gupta is a promising style and 50m butterfly. This means ship. That very year, she represented
Bcompetitive swimmer who cutting 3-4 seconds in each event,” Team India A at the online Asian
already has 50 medals of state and she says. Schools Chess Championship and
national aquatic championships Power to your strokes! won a bronze in the National Chess
adorning her mantelpiece at home. Championship in the U-9 category.
Late last year at the National Paromita Sengupta (Bengaluru) Though totally committed to at-
Games of India staged in Gujarat, taining GM (grand master) status,
this sprint mermaid who specialises Hanya adeptly balances academic
in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle HANYA SHAH study and chess practice. “I am
and butterfly stroke events, was the currently preparing for the upcom-
youngest competitor to represent hen not reading Harry ing Inter-School National Chess
Karnataka in four open category Potter stories, Ahmedabad- Championship in Hosur, Tamil
events. And she returned with gold, Wbased Hanya Shah (11) Nadu. However, my sights are also
silver and bronze medals. Earlier at prefers to practise chess moves. Both set on the national, Asian and World
the 48th Junior Nationals Aquatic pastimes have proved useful. championships in my age category,
Championship in Bhubaneswar, Recently (November), this class and acquiring a GM title. Finding a
held last July, in the 50m butter- VI pupil of the city’s CBSE-affiliated sponsor for my foreign trips is also
fly, Tanishi clocked 29.37 seconds Apple Global School, hit national top priority,” she says.
breaking the national record (wom- headlines when she won bronze at Wind beneath your wings!
en’s world record: 24.1 seconds). the Commonwealth Chess Cham- Runa Mukherjee Parikh (Ahmedabad)
The elder of two daughters of pionships staged in Kalutara (Sri
IT professionals Ritesh and Anjali Lanka). To her great delight, she
Gupta, and a class VII student of received her medal from prime
Bengaluru’s top-ranked Inventure minister Dinesh Gunavardena of
Academy, Tanishi first took to our neighbour island republic.
water in her apartment complex Even at this young age Hanya
pool. Inspired by top swimmers is routinely winning medals and
Sajan Prakash, Srihari Natraj, encomiums. Last October, she
and Shivani Kataria who donned bagged silver and bronze in the
India colours, Tanishi plunged into blitz and classic categories of the
competitive swimming in 2018 at Asian Youth Chess Champion-
age eight, signing up for training ships held in Bali; in September,
at Bengaluru’s Nisha Millet Swim- she was adjudged eighth at the
ming Academy under the tutelage of World Cadets Chess Champion-
coach Abhinav Prakash. ship in Batumi, Georgia; in May
In 2021 she signed up with the she won gold, silver and bronze
Dolphin Aquatics School of the at the Western Asian Chess
Padukone-Dravid Center for Sports Tournament in the Maldives
Excellence. Under coach Madhu where she was also conferred the

38 EDUCATIONWORLD FEBRUARY 2023