Eight-year-old Tanishka Garg of Bathinda has become the youngest female player from Punjab to be awarded an international chess rating. She achieved this milestone while competing in the National Chess Tournament (Under-9 category) in Gurugram last month.

The latest ratings were officially released only this month following the standard calculation procedure of the International Chess Federation (FIDE or Fédération Internationale des Échecs), which releases new and updated ratings globally in the first week of every month.

Earlier, Tanvir Kaur Khinda, aged nine, was Punjab’s youngest FIDE-rated female player. To secure an initial FIDE rating, a player must compete in at least five games against already-rated opponents and score a minimum of one point (either through a win or two draws). The player’s performance must also meet the rating floor of 1,400 or more, as per revised FIDE guidelines.

Tanishka’s mother Meenu said her daughter had started playing chess at the age of four. “My elder son used to take lessons from chess coach Pankaj Shama, who lived in our neighbourhood, and Tanishka often accompanied him and developed an interest in the game. After a couple of months, the coach told us that Tanishka was good enough to compete in a tournament,” said Meenu.

Tanishka came second in the Punjab State Chess Championship (Under-9 category) when she was only six. Later, she participated in the Senior Women’s Championship held in Bathinda, scoring 2 out of 5 points, an achievement that reflected her potential. Thereafter, her family started her professional training.

Punjab State Chess Association president Ankush Kathuria confirmed that Tanishka is the youngest female player from Punjab to earn a FIDE rating. “We are immensely proud to announce that Tanishka has achieved her FIDE rating, becoming the youngest rated female chess player from Punjab,” Kathuria said in a social media post.

“This incredible milestone is a story of steadfast dedication, discipline and love for the game, not only from Tanishka, but also from her parents, who have invested immense time, energy and emotion in nurturing her passion for chess. Her journey is a reminder to every family that dreams come true when pursued with sincerity, consistency and sacrifice,” he said.

Tanishka’s parents Bhushan Garg and Meenu Garg said their daughter’s school, Silver Oaks School, Dabwali Road, Bathinda, has also been highly supportive. “We’re deeply grateful to her coaches, Sourabh Arora and Deepak Batra, the school principal and the school management for everything they’ve done to nurture her interest in sports,” said Meenu.