Chess

 NPR - India is poised to take over the chess world, especially after 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh's recent victory at the FIDE Women's Chess World Cup. This achievement marks India's 88th grandmaster — a title awarded to the best players globally. Since the pandemic, chess has experienced a significant resurgence worldwide. With more leisure time, people began playing online and watching on YouTube. India has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of this boom. Traditionally, Indian parents don't encourage their children to pursue sports seriously. But chess, which mirrors academic pursuits, has gained acceptance. Now, India is making sure its youth are poised to checkmate with a system created to teach "from the grassroots" of the sport, according to chess trainer Venkat Saravanan. Take a look at how they are making strategic moves.