Aradhya Das, a budding chess prodigy from Tripura, showcased her remarkable talent at the Asian Youth Rapid Chess Championship held in Kazakhstan. Competing in the Under-10 Girls’ category, Aradhya secured an impressive fourth place, scoring 5 points across seven rounds.
Aradhya, a student of Sri Krishna Mission School and a member of Matrix Academy, started the tournament on a high note. She led the field with a perfect score of 5 points from the first five rounds. However, her journey to the top was halted in the sixth round when she faced her compatriot Pooja Shree and suffered a setback. This loss dashed her hopes of securing a higher finish.
In the seventh and final round, Aradhya faced a formidable opponent in Chinese chess player Peng Jingyuai. Despite a valiant effort, Aradhya was unable to secure a win, which would have almost guaranteed her second place. Nonetheless, her performance was commendable, finishing fourth with 5 points—a significant achievement for a fifth-grader competing at such a high level.
Speaking from Kazakhstan, Aradhya expressed her disappointment at not finishing higher. “I was almost sure of winning the last match,” she said. “But a slight mistake allowed the Chinese chess player to snatch away the victory. However, I will try to play even better in the next tournaments and bring home a gold medal for the country.”
Aradhya’s coach, FIDE Master Prasenjit Datta, congratulated her on her performance and encouraged her to stay positive and focused for the upcoming events. The State Chess Association secretary, Pradip Kumar Roy, and former secretary, Deepak Saha, also extended their congratulations to Aradhya, recognizing her hard work and dedication.
Aradhya’s journey in the tournament is far from over. She is set to participate in two more events, and the people of Tripura are hopeful that she will continue to excel and bring further glory to the state. Her resilience and determination promise a bright future in the world of chess.
(Tripura, Tripura News)
