R Vaishali's Historic Chess Victory: A Father's Emotional Journey and Coach's Dedication
In Chennai, as R Vaishali edged closer to becoming the Candidate in a prestigious chess tournament, her father, Rameshbabu, experienced mounting tension at home, glued to the television with every move on the board. After the match concluded, the proud father called his daughter and expressed his admiration, saying, "Nalla veladina, ma (You played well, dear)," before she was swept away for a flurry of interviews.
A Father's Reflection on Years of Hard Work
Speaking to TOI on Thursday, Rameshbabu shared his heartfelt emotions. "In these 20 years, she has put in a lot of effort and struggled a lot, so it has finally come to fruition. I tell her: If you work hard, you will always get results. I’m feeling very happy and proud," he said, highlighting the culmination of Vaishali's dedication and perseverance in the world of chess.
The Dronacharya Award Winner Behind the Queen's Success
While Vaishali thanked her father for his unwavering support after her moment of triumph, she also acknowledged her childhood coach, RB Ramesh, a Dronacharya Award winner. Ramesh had worked tirelessly with her in the lead-up to the tournament and made a promise: if she won, he would travel to Cyprus to congratulate her in person. True to his word, Ramesh booked the next flight from Chennai to Paphos late on Wednesday night.
"I’m really happy for both Vaishali and Pragg. I’m trying to surprise Vaishali; I hope she doesn’t know that I’m coming," Ramesh told TOI from the airport in the early hours of Thursday. He coaches at three chess academies and noted that boys still outnumber girls in his setup, but Vaishali's triumph is expected to shift that balance significantly.
Ramesh emphasized the broader impact of her victory: "For women’s chess, especially having a world champion from India, it will be a huge boost for the game. It will give a lot of hope and confidence to young girls that they can also be the best in the world. I remember when I was young, our generation always felt we were not good enough compared to the Russians and other foreign players, because we didn’t have much exposure to the West and so on. But this generation, with such role models from a very young age, will feel they can be the best players in the world."
Pranesh: The Friend Who Kept Her Calm
GM M Pranesh joined Vaishali's team just a month before the Candidates, with the idea initially floated almost as a joke. However, the 19-year-old played a crucial role in 'keeping her calm' throughout the intense campaign.
"RB sir and his wife Aarthie suggested it. They felt I had the potential, and that I tend to stress a lot, so Pranesh would be perfect to keep me mentally stable. We played a lot of blitz and practice games. There were many tense moments during the tournament, and he kept me calm," Vaishali explained to ChessBase India after her win.
For Pranesh, the role came naturally as he was already her friend. "I was trying to keep her mindset in a good space so that she could give her best in the game. After she finishes her game, I analyse it with her," he told TOI from Cyprus, underscoring the importance of mental support in high-stakes competitions.
