While the nation celebrates its sporting heroes, a young prodigy has quietly accomplished a massive feat on the international stage, with surprisingly little fanfare. Eight-year-old Anvi Hinge from Maharashtra has made India immensely proud by sweeping an incredible six medals at the recent Western Asian Youth Chess Championship 2025 held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Anvi’s exceptional performance in the Under-8 Girls category saw her dominate across all three formats of the game, securing a remarkable haul:
- Two Gold Medals: In the Team Classical and Team Rapid events.
- Four Silver Medals: In the Individual Classical, Individual Rapid, Individual Blitz, and Team Blitz events.
Her composure and strategic brilliance made her the only girl in her category to stand on the podium in all three individual formats (Classical, Rapid, and Blitz).
Anvi’s achievement is a crucial contribution to India’s overall medal tally and positions her as one of the brightest future stars in Indian chess. Her journey is a testament to immense dedication, beginning chess at just four and a half years old, and training rigorously while balancing school.
Despite her hero’s welcome aboard her flight home—where the pilot made a special announcement celebrating her win—Anvi’s extraordinary success has not yet broken through to mainstream headlines.
Speaking after her victory, the young champion shared her favourite moment: “My favorite moment was when I went on stage to collect my medals while holding the Indian flag. It felt really special, and I felt very proud.”
As India continues to look for global recognition in sports, the incredible story of this young girl, who showed world-class skill and fortitude against the best in Western Asia, deserves to be amplified. Anvi Hinge is not just a participant; she is a medal-winning phenomenon making the country proud, and her name should be on every front page.
