11-year-old Indian-origin Bodhana becomes England No. 1

NEW DELHI: Indian-origin chess endowment Bodhana Sivanandan has go England’s top-rated pistillate player, according to the latest database by FIDE. At conscionable 11, she present holds a standing of 2366 and has moved up of four-time British women’s champion Lan Yao.

Based successful North London, Bodhana’s travel is particularly singular fixed she lone picked up chess during the COVID-19 lockdown.Her occurrence didn’t halt astatine the nationalist level, Bodhana has besides entered the world’s apical 100 women players for the archetypal time, presently ranked 72nd.

Her emergence has been described arsenic extraordinary, particularly for a young schoolgirl who began playing aft discovering an aged chess acceptable astatine home. The communicative goes that her begetter was astir to propulsion it away, but that infinitesimal ended up changing her life.She has already achieved the rubric of Woman International Master and continues to impressment connected the planetary stage. One of her standout moments came erstwhile she defeated erstwhile satellite champion Mariya Muzychuk astatine a large European tourney successful Greece.Her accomplishment has drawn praise from many, including erstwhile UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who shared a idiosyncratic memory.

"Huge congratulations to Bodhana Sivanandan connected becoming England's apical pistillate chess subordinate astatine conscionable 11 years old. We erstwhile played each different successful the Downing Street garden. Let's conscionable accidental her occurrence has not travel arsenic a shock," helium said.Officials from the English Chess Federation besides praised her impact. "She is blazing a way not conscionable for women and girls successful the game, but for each chess players successful England. Across each sports, she indispensable beryllium 1 of the astir prodigious talents England has ever produced," said CEO Richard Walsh.With her dedication and household support, Bodhana is already competing astatine the highest level, and her travel is conscionable beginning.