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The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Survey finds 1,365 Nilgiri tahrs in Kerala
The joint Nilgiri tahr census in Kerala and Tamil Nadu reported a population of 2,668 Nilgiri tahrs. According to Forest department officials, 1,365 tahr belong to Kerala and 1,303 to Tamil Nadu. The Eravikulam National Park (ENP) is home to the largest contiguous population of Nilgiri tahr in Kerala, numbering 841 individuals. Officials said that in 2024, the number of tahrs in the ENP was 827. Ninety percent of the tahr population in the State is found in the Munnar landscape alone. A major presence of tahrs in Tamil Nadu is reported in Mukurthi National Park and Grass Hills National Park, lying across the Kerala State border. The growing tahr population points out the need for interstate cooperation and coordinated management of Nilgiri tahr protected areas. Grassland availability The controlled burning practice in Eravikulam National Park (ENP) was behind the success of the increasing number of tahrs. According to officials, of the total 1,365 Nilgiri tahrs in the State 1,126 were found in the Munnar landscape. Of this, the ENP is home to 841 tahrs. Munnar Wildlife Warden K.V. Harikrishnan said the nutritious grasslands of the region are behind the success of the tahr population in the park. 'In the nexy three years, controlled burning will be conducted in 97 sq km area of the park. 'The grasslands of ENP become unsuitable for grazing every three years after completing the growth of the natural grass. Nilgiri tahr and other animals will not feed on such grass. Then, controlled burning was introduced in the grasslands of the park on a rotational basis. The practice is conducted after removing all animals from the grasslands,' said Mr. Harikrishnan. 'This year alone, 144 new tahr births were reported in the park. Newborn Nilgiri tahr calves are eating the newly grown grass from the grasslands. Besides ensuring food security for the Nilgiri tahrs, controlled burning also helps increase the productivity of these animals. Nilgiri tahrs are a major prey for tigers and leopards inside the ENP, which in turn helps maintain the population at a controlled level,' said the warden. The warden stated that the easy availability of prey inside the park has helped lessen the straying of tigers and leopards outside of the park and into human habitat. The Forest department first took up the controlled burning practice in Eravikulam around 30 years ago, based on the know-how of the Muthuvan tribal communities, said officials. Standardised survey techniques The joint population estimation of Nilgiri tahrs was conducted continuously for four days in 89 census blocks in Kerala and 182 census blocks in Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, the census was conducted in 19 forest divisions, from Thiruvananthapuram to Wayanad, and all reported the presence of Nilgiri tahr. 'The use of standardised techniques such as the 'Bounded Count and 'Double Observer' methods contributed to improved data reliability of the tahr survey,' said an official. According to officials, historically, Nilgiri tahr occupied a wider range across the Western Ghats, much of which has been lost to plantations, infrastructure development, and land-use change. The Population Estimation 2025 aimed to explore historically known areas and gather information on fragmented tahr populations, as well as the potential for re-establishing habitat connectivity to restore these populations. The survey also discovered the biodiversity richness of tahr habitats, which host apex predators such as the tiger, leopard, and dhole, as well as endemics like the Nilgiri langur and lion-tailed macaque. Minister for Forests and Wildlife Protection A.K. Saseendran released the census report on Tuesday at Thiruvananthapuram during the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ENP in Munnar.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Chess: India gets 87th Grandmaster after Harikrishnan A Ra achieves his final GM norm in France
A detailed view of the board and pieces (Photo by) CHENNAI: Three months ago, A Ra Harikrishnan promised his coach Shyam Sundar that he would come back from the tournaments in Europe as a Grandmaster. The 23-year-old Chennai boy kept his word as he secured his third and final GM norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France on Friday. Harikrishnan is the 87th Indian GM, and 32nd from Tamil Nadu. The first breakthrough for Harikrishnan came in July 2023 at the Biel International Chess Festival in Switzerland, where he earned his first norm. He added a second at the Lince Andujar Open in Spain in June. As a seven-year-old, Harikrishnan earned his FIDE rating, the youngest Indian to do so at that time. But it wasn't until 2018 that he earned the International Master title. Seven years later, he finally crossed the next big milestone. 'I took up chess when I was five, after I saw my brother Venkata Krishnan playing. He was a state-level player. After bagging the IM title, I was stuck there for a while. It was only in 2022 that I started playing seriously again and took part in back-to-back tournaments. It was also the year I started training with my coach Shyam sir , and we worked on a lot of stuff,' said Harikrishnan, whose mother, Renga Nachiar, is an international arbiter. One would think that with the GM title in hand, Harikrishnan would be on the next flight home, just as he had promised. But he isn't done yet. The hunger now is for rating points and eventually, a 2600 rating. 'I was a little more adamant this time that I really wanted to become a GM, but that wasn't the entire goal. I'm still aiming for more. I've already planned three more tournaments — in Morocco, Spain and Portugal — and I'd like to reach a rating of 2530 or 2540 before I return. Till I became a GM, it felt like a huge thing. But now that I've done it, it doesn't feel like a lot. Maybe the journey really is more beautiful than the destination,' he said. Harikrishnan (r) with his coach Shyam Sundar, who runs Chess Thulir academy in Chennai Even as the goalpost shifts, coach Shyam knows exactly what makes his student tick and what he needs to keep doing. 'We worked on calculations, dynamics and strategies. He also had a good understanding of the Reti opening, which was Vladimir Kramnik's favourite. So I made him go deeper into that and play more games using it. 'Now, I think openings will play a major role, because what helped him reach 2500 and become a GM might not be enough to go beyond. That's just the base. Now it's about working harder on openings and playing, beating more 2650-rated GMs,' said Shyam, who is currently serving as head of delegation for the Indian team at the Women's World Cup in Georgia. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
India.com
13-07-2025
- Sport
- India.com
Meet Harikrishnan A Ra, Who Became India's 87th Grandmaster After Seven Years Of Grit
photoDetails english 2931130 Updated:Jul 13, 2025, 02:00 PM IST Meet India's 87th Grandmaster 1 / 10 Harikrishnan A Ra, a 23-year-old from Chennai, has officially become India's 87th Grandmaster. He earned the prestigious title after securing his final GM norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France on July 11, 2025. A Seven-Year Journey of Grit 2 / 10 Harikrishnan became an International Master (IM) in 2018, but his road to Grandmaster status was long and challenging. It took seven years of consistent performance, travel, and endurance to achieve this lifelong goal. The Three Crucial Norms 3 / 10 He earned his GM norms at: Biel Chess Festival, Switzerland (2023) Lince Andújar Open, Spain (June 2025) La Plagne, France (July 2025), drawing against Pranesh Iniyan in the final round. The Marathon Man of Chess 4 / 10 In his final push toward the GM title, Harikrishnan played 10 consecutive tournaments abroad, including events in Dubai, Croatia, Russia, Spain, and France. He believes his peak performance comes after 3-4 events in a row. Mentored by Excellence 5 / 10 Harikrishnan trains under Grandmaster Shyamsundar Mohanraj, who also coached India's 86th GM, Srihari LR. His guidance helped sharpen Harikrishnan's strategy and resilience on the board. No Time for Celebration 6 / 10 Even after achieving his GM title, Harikrishnan remains grounded. Instead of celebrating, he is focused on upcoming tournaments, proving his dedication and hunger for growth in the chess world. Next Goals: 2600 Elo and MBA 7 / 10 While he's chasing a 2600+ Elo rating, Harikrishnan also plans to pursue an MBA in the United States. He holds a Master's in Commerce ( from SRM University, showing his balance between academics and sport. Career Highlights 8 / 10 Notable performances: 2nd place at Ljubljana Festival 2024 (7.5/9) Champion at Chania Chess Open 2024 Dominant wins in multiple rapid and blitz events across 2023. India's Chess Boom Continues 9 / 10 Harikrishnan's rise adds to India's growing chess dominance. With Chennai as a chess hub and a strong mentor ecosystem, the country is now producing top-tier GMs faster than ever. 'A Struggle, But Worth It' 10 / 10 Reflecting on his achievement, Harikrishnan said: 'It's been seven years... a struggle. I feel very happy.' His journey reflects persistence, discipline, and the mindset of a champion. All Images:- X, Chessbase India
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
A Ra Harikrishnan, another GM from Chennai stable
Harikrishnan (r) with his coach Shyam Sundar, who runs Chess Thulir academy in Chennai CHENNAI: Three months ago, A Ra Harikrishnan promised his coach Shyam Sundar that he would come back from the tournaments in Europe as a Grandmaster. The 23-year-old Chennai boy kept his word as he secured his third and final GM norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France on Friday. Harikrishnan is the 87th Indian GM, and 32nd from Tamil Nadu. The first breakthrough for Harikrishnan came in July 2023 at the Biel International Chess Festival in Switzerland, where he earned his first norm. He added a second at the Lince Andujar Open in Spain this June. As a seven-year-old, Harikrishnan earned his FIDE rating, the youngest Indian to do so at the time. But it wasn't until 2018 that he earned the International Master title. Seven years later, he has finally crossed the next big milestone. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai 'I started playing when I was five. My brother, Venkata Krishnan, was a state-level player and that's how I got into chess. After bagging the IM title, I was stuck there for a while. It was only in 2022 that I started playing seriously again and took part in back-to-back tournaments. It was also the year I started training with my coach Shyam sir, and we worked on a lot of stuff,' said Harikrishnan, whose mother, Renga Nachiar, is an international arbiter. One would think that with the GM title in hand, Harikrishnan would be on the next flight home, just as he had promised. But he isn't done yet. The hunger now is for rating points and eventually, a 2600 rating. 'I was a little more adamant this time that I really wanted to become a GM, but that wasn't the entire goal. I'm still aiming for more. I've already planned three more tournaments — in Morocco, Spain and Portugal — and I'd like to reach a rating of 2530 or 2540 before I return. Till I became a GM, it felt like a huge thing. But now that I've done it, it doesn't feel like that much. Maybe the journey really is more beautiful than the destination,' he said. Even as the goalpost shifts, coach Shyam knows exactly what makes his student tick and what he needs to keep doing. 'We worked on calculations, dynamics and strategies. He also had a good understanding of the Reti opening, which was Vladimir Kramnik's favourite. So I made him go deeper into that and play more games using it. 'Now, I think openings will play a major role, because what helped him reach 2500 and become a GM might not be enough to go beyond. That's just the base. Now it's about working harder on openings and playing, beating more 2650-rated GMs,' said Shyam, who is currently serving as head of delegation for the Indian team at the Women's World Cup in Georgia.
Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Meet Harikrishnan A Ra, India's 87th grandmaster
For a man chasing a grandmaster title since 2018, the final two steps were taken in the span of a few days. Harikrishnan A Ra became India's 87th grandmaster after a draw with P. Iniyan in the final game of the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France. After getting his first GM norm a few years ago, the Chennai-based player gained the next two he needed in two tournaments — gaining his second one at Andujar Open in Spain before earning the third in France — to get the highest title the sport has to offer. Harikrishnan smiles as he talks about his 'quite crazy months', as he has played seven tournaments outside India in a row now and will only return home after playing three more. He started this 10-tournament stretch at Dubai in the middle of May, then went to Croatia for a couple of events, before flying to Russia for the Asian League Teams Championship where he helped the Airports Authority of India Team claim bronze. Then there was a pitstop in Spain for another tournament where he earned his second norm, before earning this third norm at La Plagne in France. His travels are far from over: he is already on his way to Spain for another tournament before going to Portugal. While most other players take breaks between foreign trips to refresh themselves and regain mental strength, Harikrishnan prefers to go on a jet-setting tear of 9-10 tournaments at a stretch. 'This method doesn't work for many people. But if I plan to play in just two or three tournaments, usually it's going to be bad. Last year too, I played nine tournaments in a row. After four tournaments, I was not doing well. Then, in the final five, I improved my Elo rating to 2500. So bunching together tournaments usually works for me. For some reason, I get into my flow after four tournaments. This year too, after four tournaments, I got my two norms back-to-back,' Harikrishnan tells The Indian Express. When he earned this third norm on Friday, one of the first calls Harikrishnan made was to his coach, GM Shyamsundar Mohanraj, who runs Chess Thulir in Chennai, and was also responsible for India getting its 86th GM, Srihari LR. Usually, every time Harikrishnan sets off to play in a series of tournaments, he spells out a goal to his coach. It could be 'I'll only return after becoming a grandmaster' or 'I'll return with a 2600 rating'. So now that a seven-year-wait has ended, Shyamsundar wanted to know his ward's plan. He was wondering if Harikrishnan would like to come home. Instead, the 24-year-old mentioned the next three tournaments he was preparing for. 'That made me very proud. He's 24. Other players in his shoes might have felt that they have finally become a GM.'Chalo, ho gaya. Now time for a party.' But not him. In fact, his next event starts in two days,' Shyamsundar told The Indian Express. He paints a portrait of a guy who's completely devoted to his craft, to the point that he swore off social media recently. 'He doesn't have too many distractions. He doesn't get carried away. So if we're doing 10 to 12 camps of his rating level in a year, he used to be there in at least 90 percent of them,' the coach says. Now that the final GM norm is achieved, the two have a new objective for the next three tournaments. 'I told him since you've become a GM, now you should try experimenting a little bit (with playing styles etc) and see how it goes,' said Shyamsundar. Amit Kamath is Assistant Editor at The Indian Express and is based in Mumbai. ... Read More
