Latest news with #TaniaSachdev
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Girls should compete more against boys: Tania Sachdev
Tania Sachdev (X) Chennai: The debate over abolishing the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title has its pieces set on opposite squares. While legendary Judit Polgar has thrown her weight behind it, Indian star Tania Sachdev, a WGM herself, believes there's no need to take away the titles as they encourage many young girls. 'I don't think I'm particularly against women's titles, but I do feel young girls should play in as many open tournaments as possible. They should train with boys, compete against them and not focus just on women's tournaments. There is no need to take away women's titles because it does encourage young girls to take up the sport,' said International Master (IM) Tania, who is commentating at the Chennai Grand Masters event. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! While seeing the case for a change in the bigger picture, she mentioned it should be a 'slower transition'. 'I get it in the long run, there is something to be said for that, but I think it will take away an entire generation of chess players. So maybe you have to make that into a slower transition. I also feel that young girls playing only women's tournaments can kind of limit your potential.' Poll Should the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title be abolished? Yes, it should be abolished No, it should remain Only if more girls compete in open tournaments Unsure / Need more information Tania feels the shift towards girls competing more in open events is already underway, a stark contrast from her own playing days. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If A Cat Bites Their Owner Heres What It Really Means Gloriousa Undo The 38-year-old from Delhi said: 'The more girls do it (competing in men's tournaments), the more comfortable it gets. This change in thought process is already happening compared to even five years ago. In my time, that was not even a question; there were barely any open tournaments. Now, the younger generation is of this mindset that they want to compete with the boys. It's slowly going in the right direction.' 'WOMEN AREN'T LAGGING BEHIND' Teenager Divya Deshmukh's recent FIDE Women's World Cup victory over her senior Koneru Humpy has given fresh impetus to women's chess in India. Tania said that victory made it clear women aren't lagging behind in this shining era of Indian chess. 'To see both Humpy and Divya taking part in the Candidates will be a big moment for Indian chess fans. Having two Indians from different generations in the final, it's just so inspirational. I think the girls are also proving that they're not going to be left behind in this golden generation,' said Tania. Regarding her own playing career, Tania said she still has some chess left in her but now relishes commentating more. 'I love commentary. I feel like I don't love playing as much as I used to, but I still love the game just as much,' said Tania. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Girls should compete more against boys: Tania
Tania Sachdev CHENNAI: The debate over abolishing the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title has its pieces set on opposite squares. While the legendary Judit Polgar has thrown her weight behind it, Indian star Tania Sachdev, a WGM herself, believes there's no need to take away such titles as they encourage many young girls. 'I don't think I'm particularly against the women's titles, but I do feel young girls should play in as many open tournaments as possible. They should train with boys, compete against them and not focus just on women's tournaments. There is no need to take away women's titles because those encourage young girls to take up the sport,' said Tania, who is commentating at the Chennai Grand Masters event, on Tuesday. While seeing the case for a change in the bigger picture, Tania, who also has the International Master (IM) title, mentioned it should be a 'slower transition'. 'I get it in the long run, there is something to be said for that, but I think it will take away an entire generation of chess players. So maybe you have to make that into a slower transition. I also feel that young girls playing only women's tournaments can kind of limit their potential. ' Tania feels the shift towards girls competing more in open events is already seen, a stark contrast from her playing days. The 38-year-old from Delhi said: 'The more girls do it (competing in open tournaments), the more comfortable it gets. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Compare Spreads: Bitcoin vs Ethereum CFDs IC Markets Learn More Undo This change in thought process is already happening, compared to even five years ago. In my time, that was not even a question; there were barely any open tournaments. Now, the younger generation is of this mindset that they want to compete with the boys. It's slowly going in the right direction.' 'Women aren't lagging behind': Teenager Divya Deshmukh's recent Women's World Cup victory over her senior Koneru Humpy has given fresh impetus to women's chess in India. Tania said the victory made it clear women aren't lagging behind in this shining era of Indian chess. 'To see both Humpy and Divya taking part in the Candidates will be a big moment for Indian chess fans. Having two Indians from different generations in the final, it's just so inspirational. I think the girls are also proving that they're not going to be left behind in this golden generation,' said Tania. Regarding her own playing career, Tania said she still has some chess left in her but now relishes commentating more. 'I love commentary. I feel like I don't love playing as much as I used to, but I still love the game just as much. I still want to play a one or two tournaments a year but I'm shifting pretty much full-time towards commentary,' said Tania, who last competed at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, where India won a historic gold. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Women chess players must compete in open tournaments to improve, says Tania Sachdev
International Master and leading chess commentator Tania Sachdev suggested that women chess players should try to play more open tournaments to improve themselves, while also arguing that women-specific titles shouldn't be done away with. 'I feel like young girls should play in as many open tournaments as possible. They should train and compete against men and not focus only on women-only tournaments. But I also feel that there is no need to take away women's titles. Because, for many players, that is an aspiration, encouraging young girls to take up the sport. [Doing that] will take away an entire generation of chess players,' said Sachdev, who is in the city on commentary duty at the Chennai Grand Masters 2025. Sachdev believes a slower transition would be the key for women chess players to assimilate. 'I feel girls participating in open tournaments is great and through that getting these titles can be sort of a middle ground because I see value in both. I feel that young girls playing only women's tournaments will limit their potential a little bit,' says Sachdev. ALSO READ | Bodhana Sivanandan becomes youngest female chess player to defeat a Grandmaster The 38-year-old also applauded Indian players' performance at the recent FIDE Women's World Cup, where Divya Deshmukh beat Koneru Humpy in the final. 'I think the girls are also proving that they're not going to be left behind in this golden generation of chess. I think that the performance of having the two Indians, from different generations, in the finals is just so inspirational for young girls to watch that and to take up the sport,' added Sachdev. Sachdev was last seen in her playing role during India's gold medal-winning run at the Chess Olympiad last year. The two-time national champion has been a prominent presence in the broadcast scene and sees herself continuing in that capacity in the future. 'I don't think I want to balance [between playing and commentary]. I love commentating. I still want to play a little bit. I think I still have some game left in me. So, I will play maybe one or two tournaments a year. But I'm shifting pretty much full-time towards commentary,' added Sachdev.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Tania Sachdev terms commentator role as a joy and privilege
Tania Sachdev is adept at pushing the pieces on the chess board as she is at talking about the game. She juggles her roles as a player and one wielding the microphone rather seamlessly. The 38-year-old Tania, who is an Olympiad winner and a commentator, makes heads turn with her eloquence. She was all praise for Divya Deshmukh for capturing the FIDE Women's World Cup title recently and said it was a joy to watch her in action. 'It was brilliant to watch her perform. I mean, the results were one thing, but also just the way she played in the whole tournament. The World Cup is such a long event. Every round is so incredibly difficult. It takes such a mental toll as well. Even at the Olympiad, she was one of the key players to get us the gold medal in Budapest,' Tania, an International Master (IM), told reporters on the sidelines of the Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters tournament here on Tuesday. She also praised veteran Koneru Humpy for her runner-up finish at the World Cup. With regard to the legendary Judit Polgar's call for doing away with titles (like Woman International Master and Woman Grandmaster), Tania said she didn't quite agree with the idea and added 'because for many players, that is an aspiration which does encourage young girls to take up the sport.' She also favoured young girls playing in as many open tournaments as possible and training with boys and competing against men. On her love for commentary, Tania said: 'I love commentating. I don't think I love playing as much as I used to. So it's not a job for me. It's a joy and privilege to be able to do what I do.'
