A two-day chess tournament https://thewaveandaman.com/girls-chess-tournament-andaman-2025/ designed to promote intellectual sports among girls concluded on July 13 at the auditorium of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sri Vijaya Puram. Branded under the national campaign “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,” the event drew over 200 participants from across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, reinforcing a growing culture of inclusive sports in the region.
Jointly organized by the Directorate of Education, the Social Welfare Department, and the Andaman Nicobar Chess Association (ANCA), the tournament marked one of the largest chess events for school-aged girls in recent memory. The competition was structured into six age groups, Under-07 to Under-19, with nine rounds played over two days.
In the Under-19 category, Nandita emerged champion, followed by Tanisha Raj and S. Vidhya. The Under-15 segment saw Keerthana J win top honours, trailed by Chittiboina Mageswari and Kavya Raj. Younger age groups reflected similar levels of competitiveness.
Under-13 winners included S. Varanya, S. Sarisha, and Parnita. G. Disha Meenakshi led the Under-11 podium, while D. Charvi claimed gold in the Under-09 section. In the youngest Under-07 group, Aradhya Poddar took the title.
Special accolades went to A. Keerthisha, who was named the best youngest player, while K.V. Olina from Diglipur and Anushka Seal from Swaraj Dweep were honored as the best inter-island performers.
Vikram Singh, Director (Education/Sports), attended the closing ceremony and distributed trophies and certificates to the winners.
The event stood as a clear marker of changing trends in the Islands, where chess, a traditionally male-dominated sport, is gaining popularity among girls. Officials noted that intellectual sports like chess not only boost academic performance but also build confidence and resilience.
Organizers believe the tournament’s success has laid the groundwork for annual inter-island competitions, aiming to develop a regional chess circuit that could feed into national youth events.
