Olympiad gold medallist Vantika now aims for Grandmaster title

Chess Olympiad gold medallist Vantika Agrawal overcame challenges to excel in chess from Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Chess Olympiad gold medallist Vantika Agrawal is someone who has learned the sport the hard way.

Hailing from Noida in Uttar Pradesh, she had little chess infrastructure to motivate her to pursue the sport.

However, her determined mother, who wanted her children to excel in whatever they pursued, supported Vantika in overcoming numerous challenges and making a mark in a sport dominated by players from South India.

Also Read: Chess | Vantika happy to have redeemed herself and aided in her team’s victory

Vantika finally helped India achieve its biggest glory in team chess by winning the first-ever Olympiad gold in Budapest.

Vantika, 21, is now aiming to become a Grandmaster, which could happen as early as next year.

But she knows the challenges that lie ahead — the least being the countless tournaments she will have to play across the world and the monetary burden it will put on her parents.