In a surprising turn during the recent budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman drew attention to chess prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa.
The mention of the young chess sensation in such a formal and fundamental speech has sparked interest and attracted widespread attention.
Sitharaman’s choice to highlight emerging talent in chess indicates a broader focus on nurturing and encouraging intellectual excellence, particularly in strategic domains.
This move highlights the government’s dedication to recognizing outstanding talent and underlines the importance of intellectual and strategic thinking in the nation’s progress.
This article explores the implications of Sitharaman’s recognition of Praggnanandhaa and its potential impact on India’s approach to nurturing young minds in strategic fields.
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- Who is chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa?
- Why did the Finance Minister mention this chess grandmaster in the 2024 interim budget?
Who is chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa?
In her budget speech, Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa | Image: X
Praggnanandhaa, born in Chennai on August 10, 2005, is the son of Rameshbabu and Nagalaxmi. His elder sister Vaishali is an accomplished chess player and has twice achieved the title of junior champion.
Intrigued by his sister’s involvement in the game, Praggnanandhaa’s breakthrough moment came in 2013 when, at the age of 7, he achieved victory in the World Youth Under-8 Chess Championship, earning him the esteemed title of FIDE Master.
Later, he achieved this feat again in 2015 in the Under-10 category. In 2016, Praggnanandhaa achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest International Master at the age of 10 years, 10 months and 19 days.
The following year, in 2017, he marked another important milestone by achieving his first Grandmaster Standard at the World Junior Chess Championship.
Why did the Finance Minister mention this chess grandmaster in the 2024 interim budget?
Additionally, he highlighted the notable growth in the number of chess grandmasters in India, noting that the count has risen to more than 80, a significant increase from just over 20 in 2010. The previous month, the 18-year-old defeated to the Chinese Liren. with the black pieces in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024.
This achievement propelled him to surpass the legendary Viswanathan Anand and secure the highest position in India.
Surprisingly, Praggnanandhaa, who embarked on his chess journey at the age of 5, created history by becoming India’s youngest Grandmaster at the age of 12 in 2018, and subsequently held the title of the world’s second youngest Grandmaster in that moment.
In her budget speech, Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa | Image: X
Praggnanandhaa is the fifth-youngest individual to achieve the Grandmaster title, after Abhimanyu Mishra, Sergey Karjakin, Gukesh D and Javokhir Sindarov.
Her elder sister, R Vaishali, is also a Grandmaster, making them the world’s first brother-sister Grandmaster duo.
After an impressive performance as runner-up at the 2023 FIDE World Cup, the 18-year-old saw a rise in his player rankings. Despite ultimately losing, Praggnanandhaa left a lasting impression with his remarkable skills and abilities on the chess board.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn