She achieved this milestone while competing in the National Chess Tournament (Under-9 category) held in Gurugram last month
05 August, 2025 – Chandigarh : Tanishka of Bathinda has become the youngest female from Punjab to earn an international chess rating. She, aged eight years and -+4 months, achieved this milestone while competing in the National Chess Tournament (Under-9 category) held in Gurugram last month.
The ratings were officially released in August following FIDE’s standard calculation procedure.
The International Chess Federation — FIDE (French: Fédération Internationale des Échecs) —publishes new and updated ratings globally during the first week of each month.
Previously, Tanvir Kaur Khinda, aged just over nine, held the distinction of being 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 higher, as per revised FIDE guidelines.
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Speaking to The Tribune, Tanishka’s mother Meenu Garg shared that her daughter began playing chess at the age of four. Her elder son was receiving lessons from chess coach Pankaj Shama, who lived near their home in Bathinda. Tanishka often accompanied her brother and quickly picked up the game.
“After a couple of months, the coach felt she had progressed well enough to compete in a tournament,” Meenu recalled.
At age six, Tanishka was placed second in the Punjab State Chess Championship (Under-9 category). Later, she participated in the Senior Women’s Championship held in Bathinda, scoring 2 out of 5 points, a feat that highlighted her talent and prompted the family to invest in her training more seriously.
Punjab State Chess Association president Ankush Kathuria confirmed that Tanishka is the youngest female player in the state 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,” he said in a social media post.
Kathuria added, “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.”
Tanishka’s parents Bhushan Garg and Meenu Garg said their daughter currently trains under coaches Sourabh Arora and Deepak Batra.
Her school — Silver Oaks School, Dabwali Road, Bathinda — has also been highly supportive.
“We’re deeply grateful to the coaches, the school principal and the management for everything they’ve done,” Meenu added.
The Tribune