Little Mumbai girl Anaisha Nahar showing plenty of promise and a positive attitude defied all expectations by finishing on the podium in the Girls’ Under-7 category of the recently concluded Maharashtra State Selection Chess Championships, played at the Dharavi Sports Complex, Sion.
Anaishaa Nahar
Playing in her maiden State selection event, the 5-year-old Anaisha, a student of Vibgyor High School, Goregaon, exuded loads of confidence, made some clever tactical manoeuvres to enjoy a good run in the competition before clinching a deserving Silver medal.
Rekha Nahar, mother of Anaisha said: “This is just the beginning of a joyous moment. Anaisha’s journey began with a mere exposure exactly one year back in Thane with the same tournament and she was presented with the flowers for being the youngest player. Thereafter, she always dreamt of winning a trophy and she has done exactly that, winning her first Trophy. She made the team, her family super proud by her dedication and hard work which resulted in this success. This journey has also been great learning for me and requires more than just coaching. Nevertheless I would like to thank Balaji Sir and the whole team of SMCA.”
The Mumbai lass Anaisha, currently training at the South Mumbai Chess Academy, played true to her potential and exhibited a solid willpower. She started with a flourish by winning all her matches in the opening five rounds before she met eventual champion Swarali Hatvalne of Solhapur in the sixth round. Anaisha despite lacking the experience still managed to put up a good fight against her senior rival from Solapur who went on to take the Gold medal with 7.5 points. Anaisha, representing MSDCA, was second with 7 points followed by Trisha Jagtap of MCDCA who bagged the Bronze medal with 6.5 points.
“It was extra-ordinary show from this five-year-old girl, and it has naturally raised the bar for her. Considering her age, she is really well ahead of her contemporaries and a great prospect for the country if she can continue to perform with the same kind of intensity and display the same attitude and character like she did in this tournament,” admitted her coach FM Balaji Guttula.
Anaisha would now represent Maharashtra In the National Championships, slated to be held in Vijayawada next month.
A total of 190 players took part in the competition conducted and organised by the Mumbai City District Chess Association (MCDCA).