Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 14 July 2025
The two-day Smart Girls (Under-19) Chess Tournament – 2025, held under the national initiative “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”, concluded on 13th July at the Government Girls Senior Secondary School auditorium in Sri Vijaya Puram. The event saw the participation of over 200 girl players from across the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, celebrating both competitive spirit and the empowerment of young minds through chess.
Organized by the Directorate of Education in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department and the Andaman Nicobar Chess Association (ANCA), the tournament aimed to promote intellectual sports among girls and encourage gender equality through strategic competition.
The closing ceremony was graced by Mr. Vikram Singh, Director (Education/Sports), who felicitated the winners with prizes and certificates. In his inspiring address, Mr. Singh invoked the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, urging the students to pursue their dreams with unwavering focus and dedication.
“Whatever goal you choose in life, make it your central idea—think of it, dream of it, live it every moment… With such dedication, success will surely follow,” he said.
Following nine rounds of intense matches, the top performers in each age category were as follows:
–Under-19: Nandita (1st), Tanisha Raj (2nd), S. Vidhya (3rd)
–Under-15: Keerthana J (1st), Chittiboina Mageswari (2nd), Kavya Raj (3rd)
–Under-13: S. Varanya (1st), S. Sarisha (2nd), Parnita (3rd)
–Under-11: G. Disha Meenakshi (1st), S. Bhavishya (2nd), Krishnapriya B. Rajesh (3rd)
–Under-09: D. Charvi (1st), K. Lakshitaa (2nd), T. Aarohi (3rd)
–Under-07: Aradhya Poddar (1st), B. Sravya (2nd), Abhira Dutta (3rd)
Special recognitions were awarded to A. Keerthisha as the Best Youngest Player, while K. V. Olina from Diglipur and Anushka Seal from Swaraj Dweep were honoured as the Best Inter-Island Players for their exceptional performances.
The tournament highlighted the growing popularity of chess in the Islands and reinforced the idea that when young girls are given the right platform, they excel and inspire. More than a competition, the event served as a celebration of empowerment, equality, and excellence in sports.
