Tania Sachdev: Inspiring Woman Of The Week

Tania Sachdev, star chess player and our Inspiring Woman this week, has not let early fame as Grandmaster stop her from working harder.

An International Master, ranked no. 3 in India and among the top 50 in the world, Tania Sachdev, 27, is an Indian chess player who won her first international title (Commonwealth Chess-Girls Under-8) when she was just eight.

Interested in chess since childhood, with the help of very supportive parents and teachers, she began professional training for the game. A bronze-medallist in the World (under-12) and a gold-medallist in the Commonwealth (under-14), early fame did not deter her from continuing to work hard.

In 2005, she became the eighth Indian Woman Grandmaster, won the national Indian Women Championship in 2006 and 2007 and topped the Asian Chess Championship in 2008. She was conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2009. She even qualified for the 2010 Chess Olympics in Russia and finished 4th in the Asian Games.

Her future dreams are breaking into the world’s top 20 and also competing for the Men’s Grandmaster title.

Tania Sachdev

Why do we find Tania Sachdev inspiring?

  •  Believing in herself as a child and focusing on improving with her consistent performance.
  •  For proving that mind games are not just a men’s arena.
  •  For introducing more girls (and boys!) to chess as a sport and career option.

More about Tania Sachdev’s journey so far

Tania Sachdev, born on August 20, 1986, is an accomplished chess player from India. She holds prestigious titles in chess, known as International Master (IM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM). Tania is a true chess champion with an impressive list of achievements.

During her early years in Delhi, Tania’s journey in chess began at the age of 6, thanks to her mom, Anju, who introduced her to the game. Tania received professional training with the support of her parents, and she was incredibly talented. At just 8 years old, she earned her first international title. Her early chess development was guided by her coach, K.C. Joshi.

As a young chess prodigy, Tania won several events and even became the under-12 Indian champion. In 2000, she became the Asian U14 girls’ champion and achieved a bronze medal at the 1998 World Youth Chess Championships in the Girls U12 division. Tania’s dedication paid off when she won the Asian Junior Girls Championship in Marawila in 2002.

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In 2005, Tania achieved the prestigious title of Woman Grandmaster, making her the eighth Indian player to receive this honor. She went on to win the National Women’s Premier Chess Championship in India in both 2006 and 2007. In the same year, 2007, she triumphed as the Women’s Asian Chess Champion in Tehran, scoring 6½ points out of nine rounds. Her exceptional achievements earned her the Arjuna Award in 2009.

A winning streak

Indian Woman Chessplayer

Tania continued her success by winning the best woman’s prize at the Reykjavik Open in 2016. She also clinched the Commonwealth women’s champion title in Kalutara in the same year. Tania has been a vital member of the Indian national chess team, representing her country in various prestigious competitions since 2003.

She has competed in Women’s Chess Olympiads, Women’s World Team Chess Championships, the Women’s Asian Team Chess Championship, the 2006 Asian Games, and the 2009 Asian Indoor Games.

Her impressive performance includes winning the individual bronze medal for board 3 at the 2012 Women’s Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, as well as earning team silver medals in 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2014, along with individual silver and bronze medals at the Women’s Asian Team Championship.

In 2015, Tania Sachdev added another feather to her cap by winning a silver medal in the Asian Continental Women’s Rapid Chess Championship. Beyond her competitive achievements, Tania has shared her expertise by presenting a Fritztrainer Strategy DVD for Chessbase and serving as a member of the official commentary team for the 2013 World Championship Match between Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand in Chennai.

In July 2019, Tania Sachdev reaffirmed her status as the Commonwealth women’s chess champion by successfully defending her title. She remains a shining star in the world of chess.


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Image source: Tania Sachdev’s Social Media

Updated on: 21/9/2023

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