Olympiad gold-medallist Vantika Agrawal now aims for Grandmaster title

NEW DELHI: Chess Olympiad gold-medallist Vantika Agrawal, 21, from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, has faced numerous challenges in her journey to success. With limited chess infrastructure in her region, her determined mother provided crucial support.


Vantika recently contributed to India's first-ever Olympiad gold in Budapest. She is now focused on becoming a Grandmaster, possibly by next year, despite the financial and logistical challenges of competing globally.

“It has not at all been easy reaching this level, because the culture here (in north India) is all about excelling in academics, and if you want to play chess or any other sport, you need to devote extra time to that,” Vantika said. She recalls her school’s lack of interest in her achievements, even in renowned institutions like Shri Ram College of Commerce.

Vantika’s mother left her job to support her daughter. Vantika initially became interested in chess alongside other activities like karate and music. She eventually won her first prize money and continued pursuing chess.

Without readily available coaches, Vantika spent hours learning online until she found coach Manish Uniyal. Her first significant win was the Asian Championship U9 title in 2011. She and her mother traveled nationwide for tournaments.

Balancing academics and chess was tough. “I used to play a tournament, come back and the next day, I used to have some exam or something,” Vantika recalled. Despite this, she succeeded in both fields, securing national titles and academic accolades.

The COVID-19 pandemic allowed Vantika to hone her skills at home, leading to a gold in the 2020 Online Chess Olympiad. Recently, she significantly contributed to India's gold medal in Budapest, particularly when experienced players struggled.

Since 2022, Vantika has participated in 28 Open events to earn GM rating points, indicating her rigorous travel and competition schedule. Her mother, Sangeeta, acknowledges the financial strain, saying, “Playing one tournament after another, while also arranging the finances, is a challenge in itself.”

An online coaching session with a foreign grandmaster costs Rs 10,000 per hour, adding up to substantial expenses, but Sangeeta focuses on Vantika’s potential. Keeping her motivated in the solitary world of chess is also challenging for her mother.

Vantika remains hopeful and determined to become a Grandmaster soon. “I think if I keep trying my best, I can even make it by next year,” she signed off.