12 facts about effervescent chess wizard Tania Sachdev

Tania is one of the leading female chess players in her country, a Woman Grandmaster and an International Master. She also won the Reykjavík Open and Commonwealth Women’s Champion titles in 2016.

The 31-year-old chess-wizard has made India proud by winning several laurels over the years.

A Delhi girl, Tania completed her schooling from Modern School, Vasant Vihar, and did her graduation from Shri Venkateswara College, Delhi University.

Apart from being a chess player, Tania also does chess commentary, which she began in the year 2013.

Tania won her first international chess tournament in London, UK, at the age of eight.

Always high on her style quotient, Tania has walked the ramp at prestigious fashion shows for top designers such as Ashima and Leena and Sanjana Jon.

Talking about her father, who introduced her to the sport, she once said in an interview, “He didn’t know how to play, but he taught himself from one of those instructional booklets that came with a set we were given. It’s funny because he first tried to teach my older brother how to play.”

Talking about her personal style statement, she once said, “Being into sports, one can usually find me sporting a jeans and T, though I love dressing up.”

In 2014, the chess queen tied the knot with Delhi-based architect Viraj Kataria.

She made a charming Suneet Varma bride.

Tania’s unflinching determination and focus is what defines the youth of the nation. We salute you champion.

She is also the recipient of India’s highest sporting honour, the Arjuna Award, which she received in 2009.

She is currently sponsored by RedBull, while Air India takes care of all her travel.

In 2014, the chess queen tied the knot with Delhi-based architect Viraj Kataria.