Tania sets sights on chess Olympiad

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 3

Tania Sachdev, one of India’s leading woman chess players, has set her sights on winning the Chess Olympiad in the team event next year in Baku. The 28-year-old International Master has been working hard to fulfil her wish with her trainers in India and Spain.

The Delhi girl spoke to The Tribune. Excerpts:

Q) Where do you see yourself after playing chess for more than 20 years?

Tania: It’s been a long journey, with many ups and downs. There have been happy moments like winning the Arjuna award, National championships, Asian titles and, above all, bronze medal in Chess Olympiad (Istanbul, 2012). The biggest regret till date is not winning the chess Olympiad in the team event despite being part of the Indian side for 10 years. Also, I am yet to achieve the Grandmaster norm. I have been working hard for 13 years to get that. I have one norm, and need two more norms. These are two unfulfilled dreams and I am working hard to realise them soon.

Q) What are your immediate goals?

Tania: Well, I did not do well in my last outing, the Commonwealth Chess Championships. I had won a bronze medal in the championship last year. The start to the year has not been great. My next tournament is the Asian Championships in Dubai. I am working on improving my ELO ratings as I have set my sights on crossing 2500-mark barrier. My current rating is somewhere near 2400. Ratings are important for GM norm.

Q) You have recently opened a chess academy in Delhi.

Tania: It’s important to give back something to the game. I want to encourage young kids to take up chess; it’s a step in that direction. I’ve opened the academy in partnership with Vishal, who has been my coach since I was 16. We lack good coaching structure in India, especially in Delhi. The idea is to make the kids understand various tactical skills.

Q) You are among the top three women players in India, but D Harika and Koneru Humpy are ahead of you.

Tania: Humpy and Harika are not my competitors. But yes, everyone wants to be at the top. My other target is to become India’s No.1 chess player. I want to be better than them and I am working towards it with my trainer Vishal, and with another in Spain. But my ultimate dream remains winning the Chess Olympiad in Baku with the Indian team.