Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveAnmol Narang: Breaking barriers as a trailblazing Sikh-American in the U.S. Army

Anmol Narang: Breaking barriers as a trailblazing Sikh-American in the U.S. Army

By: Amrita Priya

(July 5, 2024) The U.S. has an estimated 750,000 Sikh-Americans. Anmol Narang made history when, at the age of 23, she became the first observant Sikh to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point in 2020. It was a dream come true for the young officer to pass out from the most famous military academy in the world with more than a 200-year-old history.

As the saying goes, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’, she recalled mailing her application to West Point, the military academy in the US from a hotel in Hawaii during her junior year of high school. She had just visited the Pearl Harbor National Memorial there and had felt inspired to serve.

“Gender and religion do not hinder a person’s ability to be successful,” Anmol said, adding, “That’s the great thing about the United States military is that it brings together people from all corners of the world.”

Anmol Narang

After completing a rigorous four-year training programme at the 222-year-old U.S. Military Academy, Anmol Narang finished her Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. She then reported to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, for her first posting, as a second lieutenant. After a year of her posting there, she was conferred the Federally Employed Women (FEW) Meritorious Service Award for her outstanding performance.

Inspired by her grandfather

Growing up in Roswell, Georgia, Anmol found the real stories her maternal grandfather, a veteran of the Indian Army, “very fascinating.” Her career choice to enter the Army was a natural progression. “The idea of a career in the Army seemed appealing” to her, even when she was young and didn’t know how to make it a part of her life.

Her grandfather, who served in the Indian Army in the 1960s and 70s, instilled in her the values of service and giving back to the community. A visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii during a trip strengthened her desire to follow her grandfather’s example. Learning about the sacrifices of service members, and the results of those sacrifices was very impactful on her impressionable mind.

Anmol Narang

When she graduated from the US Military Academy, excited and happy to be fulfilling her dream, she remarked, “The confidence and support of my community back home in Georgia has been deeply meaningful to me, and I am humbled that in reaching this goal, I am showing other Sikh Americans that any career path is possible for anyone willing to rise to the challenge.”

Choosing the air defence branch

Anmol Narang had pursued a year of undergraduate studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology before joining West Point military academy, where she studied nuclear engineering which led her to a career path in air defence.

Upon graduating from the U.S. Military Academy, Anmol chose the air defense branch. “Air defense units play a pivotal role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region and help ensure that events like the bombing of Pearl Harbor don’t happen again,” Anmol had shared, explaining her choice. She highlighted that she was honoured to share such an important mission in the Pacific with her teammates.

Anmol went on to serve as the fire control platoon leader for Delta Battery, 1-1 ADA (Air Defense Artillery) which consisted of a diverse group of soldiers who operated U.S. Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) systems.

Anmol Narang

Outstanding performance in service

After a year at Kadena Air Base in Japan, Lieutenant Anmol Narang was awarded the Federally Employed Women (FEW) Meritorious Service Award during the annual FEW virtual leadership conference.

FEW’s Military Meritorious Service Awards recognise outstanding military service members within the Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to their service in the US.

For her consistent engagement with subordinates and mentoring of female soldiers in Delta Battery, she got nominated by one of her mentors, Lt. Col. Rosanna Clemente, former commander of 1-1 ADA, and finally won the award.

Through her journey of becoming the first observant Sikh to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy and her dedicated performance as a soldier, Anmol Narang has been an inspiration for young people to pursue their dreams, regardless of gender or religion.

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Published on 05, Jul 2024

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Jeya Malhotra: Young changemaker supporting children with intellectual disabilities

(June 19, 2024) Growing up in Bengaluru, Jeya Malhotra often saw children with intellectual disabilities being mocked or bullied in her apartment complex. The sight was painful as these kids couldn't defend themselves, but what she found daunting was the lack of sensitivity towards these children. This led her to start Khwahish, a venture dedicated to supporting children with intellectual disabilities. "I want young kids to be sensitised about children with special needs so that the world can become more inclusive," the young changemaker tells Global Indian. The 15-year-old is dedicated to supporting SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities by creating an inclusive world. She recalls a memorable campaign in New York City where people were served dirty water on the streets. "Confused, they questioned why they were served contaminated water and learned that it is a daily reality for people in certain cities, countries, and continents around the world due to lack of access to clean water. It was a way to sensitise people on what's happening in certain parts of the world. Similarly, I want to sensitise people to the experiences of children with special needs so that they understand and see things from a lens of

se people to the experiences of children with special needs so that they understand and see things from a lens of empathy and understanding," says Jeya.

A Tinker Champ in the making

Born in Delhi, Jeya moved to Bengaluru at the age of five. An introvert with not many friends, she spent most of her time surrounded by books. "Nothing like a good read. I have always found myself drawn to the world of books," says the teen whose favourite author is Sudha Murty. But it was in Grade 7 that she first discovered Atal Innovation Mission. "It began with a message that landed on my WhatsApp school group about a Tinkerpreneur encouraging students to teach their peers about entrepreneurship. This got me intrigued," says Jeya, who began exploring the field and soon prepared a masterclass on digital skills. "Teaching students about basic PowerPoint or Excel was the beginning of my journey as a Tinker Champ." Now a Class 10 student, she create resources like boot camps, YouTube lives, and workshops to teach students from Class 6 to 12 on digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and business through peer mentoring. Till now, they have impacted over 5000 students.

Supporting children with intellectual disabilities

Over the years as a Tinker Champ, she noticed a gap: the lack of attention to intellectually challenged children. "Instead of just focussing on the resources for the intellectually challenged children, the bigger problem is the stigma around them." It's something that she witnessed firsthand in her apartment. "Such children are often mocked and made fun of. From the bird's eye view, the bigger issue is the stigma and not the resources they lack," she adds. This motivated her to start Khwahish with a mission to support children with intellectual disabilities by addressing the societal stigma and providing them with necessary resources.

"I found lack of education to be the root cause as many people have no idea about intellectual disabilities, which often leads to insensitivity," explains Jeya. She began by creating a website to share her mission and vision, and started reaching out to specialists in the field. That's when she found Dr Anamika Hui, an audiologist and speech-language pathologist who works with children with intellectual disabilities, and confirmed that stigma is a huge issue. Meanwhile, Dr Anamika also cautioned her that it's a close-knit community that isn't open to the idea of collaboration. "She told me even if I intend to empower them, I will face some resistance. I took her advice seriously and started connecting with more special educators and special schools in Bengaluru to build trust," informs Jeya.

SDG 10

While interacting with one such school - Buddhi Special School - the teenager had an epiphany that to shift the perceptions of children with intellectual disabilities from sympathy to empowerment, she needed to display their talents well and "make people know what they have to offer". Inspired, she conducted an art activity and collected their artworks for a virtual reality art exhibition. "Seeing people's surprise at the children's talent was eye-opening and confirmed that there was genuine interest, which led me to conduct my first awareness session with the help of Dr Anamika." By showcasing the talents of children with intellectual disabilities, Jeya aims to create an inclusive world. "My focus is on SDG 10 - reducing inequalities by creating an inclusive world, which can be achieved by sensitising people and changing their view on other people, who might be a little different from them."

Soon interest grew, and she began organising more awareness campaigns in residential areas as well as schools. Through Khwahish, she wants to support special schools and children and work on providing accessible learning resources and guides for parents and guardians. In just a few months, she has already impacted over 120 students. "I often ask children to picture a child with an intellectual disability, and they usually imagine someone helpless or vulnerable. This is the perception I want to change," she emphasises.

A long journey

Her journey hasn't been easy as the 15-year-old had to face a lot of criticism initially with many doubting her qualifications to work with or raise awareness about children with special needs. "I was told that working with specially-abled children or even spreading awareness about them required a certification. And I had no authority to speak on them. But I stood my ground and told them that one needed passion and the drive to conduct awareness campaigns more than certifications." Many adults dismissed her effort as a mere project due to her age and she even found many students indifferent to the cause. "Since special schools and regular schools are different, not many meet children with special needs daily. Hence, it's hard for them to understand them or know how to behave or react." She often uses the example of braces to make children understand the concept. "I tell them that if they had never seen braces before, they might mock a friend wearing them. But it’s just something normal. The same logic applies to children with special needs. However, changing perceptions takes time," adds Jeya, who believes early intervention is crucial as young minds are easy to influence as they are still far away from rigid beliefs.

Despite the challenges, Jeya has found support from a few people who have become her collaborators. "They believed in me and the cause and were always ready to help," she says. However, she acknowledges that changing perceptions is a long journey. A crucial moment in her mission was her visit to Buddhi Special School in Bengaluru, where an interaction with the coordinator, Mrs Rekha, deeply impacted her. "She told me that these kids have no idea how much stigma they will face the moment they step out into the real world. Most kids are mocked and bullied. Some kids, who need special care, are separated from their parents and stay in the premises all the time since their parents don't have the training or the skillset to take care of them. That's why special schools become important." Realising the challenges that these children might face in the real world, Jeya wants to step in and pull the plug on this by creating as much awareness so that these kids feel equally safe in the outside world. "I want the awareness impact to go into thousands for neurotypical people, especially children so that the world becomes more inclusive."

Jeya, who calls herself a bibliophile, calls awareness a two-way learning process. "When you are spreading awareness, you are in turn learning a lot in the process," says the teenager. She began Khwahish with a passion for working for children with intellectual disabilities and is on a mission to make a more inclusive world. "It's important to go with the flow, and have a growth mindset where you do not quit."

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From cow dung to cosmos: Vinay Dharmik’s quest from Surat to Baku

(December 8, 2023) When Surat’s Vinay Dharmik met ISRO chief S Somnath at a dinner hosted by the Embassy of India at Baku in Azerbaijan this year, he felt on top of the world. Being face-to-face with the ISRO chief, the heartthrob of the entire nation after the successful Chandrayaan mission, was a memorable experience. Vinay was at Baku, having earned the invitation to present his research paper at the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), following his award-winning solution in the field of aeronautical sciences. [caption id="attachment_34478" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Vinay Dharmik with ISRO Chief S Somnath[/caption] “The 74th IAC was organised by the International Astronautical Federation and hosted by Azercosmos. More than 5,000 delegates from 110 countries participated. During the conference, I interacted with astronauts and even had the chance to take selfies and get their autographs,” the thrilled eighteen-year-old said, during an interview with Global Indian. The cow-dung project Vinay, who is currently taking a gap year, had worked on a group project in school as part of ATL Space Challenge, an all-India competition launched by NITI Aayog, ISRO and CBSE. In his team project, he came up with a hypothesis about shielding astronauts from galactic cosmic rays, using an unconventional

ticipated. During the conference, I interacted with astronauts and even had the chance to take selfies and get their autographs,” the thrilled eighteen-year-old said, during an interview with Global Indian.

The cow-dung project

Vinay, who is currently taking a gap year, had worked on a group project in school as part of ATL Space Challenge, an all-India competition launched by NITI Aayog, ISRO and CBSE. In his team project, he came up with a hypothesis about shielding astronauts from galactic cosmic rays, using an unconventional material that would hardly cross anyone’s mind - cow dung. This out-of-the box idea was chosen as one of the 75 ATL winners from across the country, which saw participation from thousands of school kids of India.

After winning the award, Vinay took a leap forward, delved deeper into his research and pursued hard to finally find an opportunity to collaborate with CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru and scientists from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai.

The innovative idea that involved cow dung, a material rich in cultural significance, showcased not only scientific promise but also highlighted the value of unconventional resources in interdisciplinary research. This led the acceptance of Vinay’s request by the two esteemed organizations to support and conduct further research on his award-winning idea.

[caption id="attachment_34479" align="aligncenter" width="739"] Vinay Dharmik at Baku[/caption]

While CSIR-NAL helped him in fabricating composites, BARC helped in radiation study, radiation blocking experiments and evaluation of the composites.

“I had sought guidance from CSIR-NAL for exploring the basics of composites, matrix and reinforcements, suitable binders, various resin systems, and fabrication methods in coming up with the fabrication of cow dung composites using an epoxy resin system,” Vinay remarked adding, “While they provided technical expertise, the experience was new for them too.”

When it came to evaluation of the radiation shielding efficacy of his composites, he turned to guidance from scientists of BARC in Mumbai.

With the help of BARC scientists Vinay was able to conduct further radiation studies. His dedication towards a cost effective solution eventually earned him an invitation to present his work at the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), a prestigious event held in Baku this year.

The Baku experience

When Vinay learned about the International Astronautical Congress, he submitted his research paper on the cost-effective, light-weight and effective solution of shielding astronauts from galactic cosmic rays, and was thrilled to get an invitation to present his paper.

[caption id="attachment_34508" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Vinay Dharmik with astronauts at IAC[/caption]

Travelling to Baku proved to be a milestone in the youngster’s life as it happened to be his first foreign trip and that too earned on his own merit. “At IAC I was appreciated for being one of the youngest presenters and the sole author of the research paper that I presented,” he said.

The experience at the IAC has further fuelled the Surat boy’s determination to break barriers of coming from a small town where there is lack of opportunities and support, and aspire towards his dreams. “I want to aid humanity to thrive as an interplanetary species by becoming an astronaut or an engineer,” he remarked adding, “I want to make space tourism and colonization more accessible to people.”

Grateful for support

Grateful for the support that he has received, Vinay remarked, “I attribute my success to the invaluable assistance provided by CSIR-NAL and BARC. Their support allowed me to take my research to new heights. I am especially grateful to Nitin Bhosale Sir from BARC, who has played a significant role in my journey, and guided me in coming up with the research paper.”

The collaboration with scientific institutions has not only honed his technical skills but has given Vinay loads of confidence.

[caption id="attachment_34482" align="aligncenter" width="571"] Vinay Dharmik[/caption]

The Surat boy looks forward to the fall of 2024 when he will be flying to the USA on a scholarship he earned to pursue Aerospace Engineering at the University of Miami. His achievements stand as a testament to the power of perseverance and the virtues of relentless dedication towards one's dreams.

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From being called low-functioning to creating history, Hari Srinivasan has come a long way

(June 20, 2022) When he was first diagnosed with regressive autism, scholar Hari Srinivasan was only three years old. From being a very active and social child, Hari suddenly became a crying, fussy baby, who did not want to be around other kids. To ensure that her child gets all the support that is required, Hari's mother left a blooming career in IT and started to navigate the messy maze of services and therapies. He had difficulty in speaking and even recognising his own parents. While initially the doctors and behavioral experts called him low-functioning, Hari and his parents didn't lose hope. After about two decades, Hari created history, as University of California, Berkeley's first non-speaking graduate with autism. And that is not all. With a 4.0 GPA, a major in psychology and minor in disability studies, Hari was also awarded the prestigious P.D. Soros Fellowship. The young graduate is now headed to Vanderbilt University for his PhD in neuroscience. [caption id="attachment_18247" align="aligncenter" width="693"] Hari Srinivasan[/caption] "Let me first describe my disabilities," says the youngster, during an interview with Global Indian, adding, "I have limited speaking due to oral motor apraxia, autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I also have movement

scribe my disabilities," says the youngster, during an interview with Global Indian, adding, "I have limited speaking due to oral motor apraxia, autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I also have movement issues, fine motor challenges, body schema challenges, sensory dysregulation and anxiety. Who would have thought I would go anywhere near a college when I was in special education school stacking blocks." smiles the scholar.

He adds, "There were several issues that I and my family faced due to my medical condition during the initial years. However, with the support of my family I was able to break several stereotypes. Later, my faculty and peers at UC Berkeley helped me a lot on my journey."

A rough start

Hari's parents - a native of Chennai - had shifted to San Francisco, California in 1993. Five years later, in 1998, the couple welcomed a happy boy, who was very intelligent and loved to read. "My grandma recollects how when I was about 16 months old, I would bring my favorite Dr Seuss book for her to read, while i sat on her lap. However, when she was leaving for India about six months later, I had lost all interest in books," shares Hari.

Since not much information was available about autism at the time, Hari's parents thought that like other kids he too will move on to different things. "But it was my other grandmother who noticed that I had even stopped responding to my name. My parents took me specialists to check if my hearing was impaired. When, we were in India for a vacation, my parents took me to a child psychiatric in Chennai. There I lined up all the 50 toys in the room. Even though lining up things is one of the obsessive autism behaviours, the doctor didn't diagnose me as autistic," shares the scholar.

It was only when he was three years old, that a child neurologist diagnosed him in mere five minutes. "There was no support for kids like me back in the day. So, while the doctor diagnosed me, he asked my parents to visit him again after six months. My parents later found that there was a parent support group and they connected with them," Hari says, adding that after meeting other people his parents put him special education classrooms.

Fighting for a better future

While he was enrolled into a classroom, Hari wasn't happy with his education there. Hari was regarded as a "difficult" case and was moved many classrooms which was hardly conducive for a young child. "I felt like a kid outside a candy store looking longingly at the candy inside. My nondisabled peers were getting to learn all this cool science but my fifth-grade class was still working on the same lessons that I was doing from kindergarten , like spelling c-a-t. I was sad and frustrated and did not see how my situation would change. Perhaps over time I would have reached a state of apathy that I see in other disabled adults around me," shares the scholar, who struggled a lot during those days.

[caption id="attachment_18244" align="aligncenter" width="681"] Hari, during the UC Berkeley graduation ceremony[/caption]

A fork on road was discovering a mode of communication with use of alternative augmentative device (AAC), which took Hari out of the school district and into a charter school. The scholar shares, "The school's first psych-ed assessment placed me at XII grade for math and college level for English. All of a sudden, I started studying algebra, biology and Shakespeare and loved all of it. The very first essay I wrote in class went onto winning a National Scholastic Gold Medal which I received at Carnegie Hall in New York."

Intellectually stimulated, Hari did a ton of creative writing, including several poems and short stories, which won him several awards at state and national level. "Then Viji Dilip who ran a nonprofit asked if I wanted to be editor for a free braille mag and that kind of how I got a foot into advocacy," shares Hari, who is a human rights activist as well.

Shaping his dreams

Having denied studying at a regular school for several years, Hari took his education very seriously. However, while he dreamed of earning degrees someday, he realised that he will have to take one step at a time to achieve his goals. "My parents and I have never taken my next education steps for granted. After all I still have a ton of disability challenges. Frankly, at one point it did not look like I would even get a high school diploma. It was only after I finished my high school that we started looking for a college for me," Hari shares, adding that it was his therapist, who informed the family about community colleges.

The scholar soon joined the San Jose City College, but that wasn't enough for him. "I had applied to several colleges. When I learnt that UC Berkeley accepted my application, I was super thrilled. After all its the birthplace of disability rights movement in this country," he says. While getting into UC Berkeley was one thing, getting immense support from his faculty and peers. "Berkeley has been transformational truly," shares Hari, adding, "I had supportive faculty, non-judgmental peers and also a nudge to literally go out and be part of the change you want to see in the world. No one said no. Which makes a world of difference and also gave me courage to try out different opportunities."

[caption id="attachment_18245" align="aligncenter" width="642"] Hari along with the Haas Scholar cohort[/caption]

Hari's honors research was on the emotion of awe in autistics and how it diverged from how that emotion is felt and understood in the non-typical population. Apart from his academics, Hari was involved in several clubs and other extracurricular activities like writing for the student-run The Daily Californian, getting involved in Spectrum at the University and also running the autism class. Slowly, Hari started taking part in activities outside the University campus as well. "I was one of the three students highlighted on President Obama's Instagram on the 30th anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act. In fact, I am al the University Medal finalist (top 5 in graduating class of 11000 students) and winner of the Psychology Department citation award," shares the scholar who has been honored by some of the most prestigious societies in USA, including Psi Chi and Phi Beta Kappa.

Recently, the youngsters, who is also a published poet, received the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. "I do have some time to come with an exact research topic for PhD," shares Hari, who plans to do his research work at Vanderbilt University. "My work will focus around the human nervous/sensory system. However, I am yet to narrow it down."

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Reading Time: 8 mins

Chess brilliance: Young Indian players carving a legacy on International boards

(September 1, 2023) Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa's triumph, securing the silver medal at the 2023 FIDE World Cup, marks just the initial step for India. Not too long ago, Magnus Carlsen, the World's No. 1 chess player showered Indian chess players with praise, predicting that it's only a matter of time before India emerges as the 'foremost chess nation in the world.' Carlsen remarked, "I believe India is on the right track, and it's only a matter of time before it unmistakably leads the global chess arena." Although apart from Viswanathan Anand, who clinched the coveted crown five times, no other Indian has been challenged for the World Championship title, the rise of numerous young Indian chess players to the esteemed 'Grandmaster' status suggests a promising trajectory. This surge in talent hints at India's potential to capture numerous international trophies in the years to come. Global Indian takes a closer look at these young chess prodigies, who have impressively carved out their names on the international stage even at a tender age. Aditya Samant Meet the 17-year-old chess prodigy, Aditya, who recently achieved the prestigious title of Grandmaster (GM) at the young age of 17. Hailing from Pune, Maharashtra, Aditya's journey into

y achieved the prestigious title of Grandmaster (GM) at the young age of 17. Hailing from Pune, Maharashtra, Aditya's journey into the world of chess began when he was just 6 years old. His first taste of competitive play was at the National Under-7 Open 2013 tournament held in his hometown. Chess runs in Aditya's blood as his father, Sachin Samant, was also a passionate chess player during his college days. "My father used to give the positions to me and then we used to solve them together," the chess player said in an interview, adding, "Till I was around 2200, he was my trainer. Now I have started working on my own. Even he created opening files for me sometimes by looking at the database."

[caption id="attachment_32839" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Grandmaster Aditya Samant[/caption]

The young chess player's path to becoming a Grandmaster started to take shape at the 28th Abu Dhabi Masters in 2022. And in an impressive display of skill and determination, Aditya's FIDE Rating soared past 2500 points on the May 2023 FIDE Rating list, merely four months after his remarkable victory at the Abu Dhabi Masters. "I'm excited about enhancing my gameplay, diving into more matches, and giving it my all. At the moment, I'm planning to participate in maybe one or two tournaments before dedicating time to my upcoming board exams," Aditya said after the tournament.

Divya Deshmukh

During a press conference, the 17-year-old chess player was asked about her future chess plans. With a confident smile, Divya replied, "I don't really have any specific plans. My main focus is to continuously improve my game." That's the level of assurance radiating from this remarkable talent in Indian chess. Her journey with chess began at an early age, and her passion for the game shines brightly. By the time she turned 12, she had already secured an astounding 14 gold medals for India on the international stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QSiTABXeT4

Hailing from Maharashtra, this young chess prodigy clinched the title of National Women's Chess Champion in 2022. Adding to her impressive list of achievements, she recently emerged victorious at the Asian Continental Women's Chess Championship held in Kazakhstan. "I am very happy to win my maiden Asian women's gold medal," the chess player said after the tournament, adding, "In fact, this is my entry to the World Cup through one more route."

Nihal Sarin

At just 14 years old, he achieved an impressive Elo rating of 2600, securing his place as the third youngest player in history to accomplish this feat at that time. Nihal, hailing from Thrissur in Kerala, is the child of Sarin Abdulsalam, a dermatologist, and Shijin Ammanam Veetil Ummar, a psychiatrist. His remarkable abilities were evident from a young age, as he could identify the capitals and flags of 190 countries by the age of three. He also astounded many by memorising the scientific names of insects and plants during the same period.

[caption id="attachment_32840" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Grandmaster Nihal Sarin[/caption]

The story of how his journey in the world of chess began is quite fascinating. To keep his son engaged during school vacations, his father introduced Nihal to a chess set, while his grandfather A. A. Ummar taught him the game's rules. By the tender age of seven, this budding chess enthusiast had already clinched multiple titles, including the Kerala State Championship in the Under-07 category, two Under-09 titles, two Under-11 titles, and one Under-15 title. "I want to play the best players of the world. I don’t know if I would be able to defeat them, but playing is something I can surely do," said the chess player who won the Gold Medal as part of the Indian team in the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad 2020.

Rakshitta Ravi

Achieving a remarkable 93 percent in her 10th board exams, Rakshitta Ravi's exceptional academic performance was closely followed by her attainment of the title Indian Woman Grandmaster (WGM) in 2019. However, the fact that her father, T.S. Ravi, is a former International Master (IM), made her achievement less of a surprise for those who knew her story. “My parents are aware of the rigors that come with the sport. They help me stay grounded and motivated. In fact, my coach, RB Ramesh sir has also been instrumental in helping me raise my game in the last few years,” Rakshitta said in a recent interview.

[caption id="attachment_32841" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Grandmaster Rakshitta Ravi[/caption]

Recipient of the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievements in 2016, presented by the former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, this young achiever took her first steps on the chessboard at the tender age of two. Rakshitta's journey into competitive chess commenced when she was only four and a half years old. A significant breakthrough arrived in 2012, marked by her notable performance at the Asian Youth Chess Championships in Sri Lanka, where she secured a bronze medal. Swiftly following this triumph, merely a year later, Rakshitta claimed gold in the U-8 rapid blitz category at the World Youth Chess Championships in Dubai. "I have been working hard on becoming more consistent in the last one year and that has paid dividends. But, I do not want to compromise on my education as well, so I take time out to make sure I study," the chess player said.

Raunak Sadhwani

Raunak, the fourth youngest Grandmaster from India, achieved an Elo rating surpassing 2500 before even entering his teenage years. Just recently, he showcased his remarkable skills by maintaining an undefeated streak and securing the championship in the Masters group of the Serbia Open chess tournament held in Belgrade, where he competed among a formidable gathering of 233 participants. "Nothing in the world can beat the pleasure of winning strong tournaments. I am happy that I played some good chess and consider myself deserving of this title. I am happy that I can put our Indian flag on the top of this list of Serbia Masters. This is just the beginning, I will work harder and try to bring home more titles," the chess player said after winning the tournament.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGOk_YpFkJs

Ranked as India's 13th player, this Grandmaster stands tall among the world's most accomplished chess prodigies in his age group. Crediting his parents for his success, the young player said, "As it is rightly said - behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believes first. So I want to thank my parents for their strong belief in my strength, and standing rock solid with me in my chess journey of highs and lows. I also want to thank Indian Oil Corporation, my coaches, and West Bridge Anand Chess Academy."

Reading Time: 6 mins

Teen equestrian Ananya Settipalli is making waves in the US

(March 1, 2024) In November 2023, 16-year-old equestrian Ananya Settipalli realised a long-time dream - she made it to the United States Dressage Finals, competing with the best young riders in America. At her first junior nationals in 2019, which she entered at the age of 12, she landed multiple podium finishes, including a silver in show jumping. Ananya made it to her second junior nationals just before the pandemic and came home with a team gold in dressage and a team silver in jumping. Ananya Settipalli was born in Boston and discovered a love for horses when she was around four years old. "My parents put me in my first summer camp in North Carolina when I was seven, at a barn called MacNairs," she tells Global Indian. Nobody in her family had been into the sport or ridden horses, but her mum, who was a national-level track athlete, was an early inspiration. Ananya would listen to her mum's stories and wonder what it would feel like to compete at a national level. She would watch equestrian events on TV too, and remembers watching the Olympics over and over. "The way Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester was mesmerising to

obody in her family had been into the sport or ridden horses, but her mum, who was a national-level track athlete, was an early inspiration. Ananya would listen to her mum's stories and wonder what it would feel like to compete at a national level. She would watch equestrian events on TV too, and remembers watching the Olympics over and over. "The way Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester was mesmerising to me. They were the equestrians I looked up to the most growing up."

When she was nine, the family moved to Hyderabad, where Ananya began riding consistently. She started at the Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club but soon switched to Nasr Polo, where she competed at my first show at HRPC under Nasr.

[caption id="attachment_36295" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Teen equestrian Ananya Settipalli[/caption]

Training with KCS Reddy

She moved back to the Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club to train under Hyderabad's only competitive coach at the time, KCS Reddy. "His methods of training were quite different from others," Ananya recalls. She learned her basics on retired thoroughbreds (ex-racehorses), which can be very challenging to ride compared to the more traditional, docile warmbloods. "I learned most things related to riding the hard way. With off-track thoroughbreds, you have to control every action you make when you're on them," she says.

It was a challenging way to learn. At Nasr Polo, the polo horses were well-trained and easy to handle. The ones at HRPC, however, were fresh off the race course and had received a few months of training from KCS Reddy and his assistant. "It was a rough experience since the horses were so green, but I wouldn't trade it for any other," Ananya says, adding with a smile, "And if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met Princess."

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Meeting 'Princess'

On her 12th birthday, Ananya got her first horse, Princess, as a present. When she rode her for the first time, Princess, who was “as grumpy as a mare could get,” threw her off right away, leaving Ananya with a concussion and “a giant red mark” on her face.” A few months later, when Ananya was at her first show, Princess threw her again, and this time, she fractured her arm. "Nobody thought I would come back to riding. Nobody thought I would keep Princess. But I did both because the most important thing to understand with a horse is that it's never their fault," she says. Instead, Ananya learned patience, and began building a real relationship with the horse she would soon call her best friend. She would head to the stables at 5 am and spend three hours with Princess before school. "It was the best experience I ever had. On weekends, I would spend the first half of the day with her, I would bathe her, hand graze her, groom her and just sit in her stall to spend time with her. She was very sensitive but she just needed some love and a girl who had all the love in the world to offer to her." Their bond only grew, and ultimately, Ananya went on to qualify for the nationals riding Princess.

Competing in India

By this time, Ananya was going back and forth between Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where she was now training under Ashish Limaye at the Embassy International Riding School. She rode with Limaye to try horses to compete in her first Equestrian Premier League at the Embassy to qualify for the nationals. "I loved the place immediately," she said. "They had incredible facilities; everything was so well organised and everyone was extremely friendly and the horses were well taken care of." At the Embassy, she was also looking for horses to ride at the EPLs and ended up riding four, three of which came from the Embassy: Qurt, Dejavu, and Obligado. The fourth was a mare named Zala, whom she leased from the United Rider barn.

Her most special bond, however, was with Obligado, who was around 20 years old when she began riding him. "He's a thoroughbred but he could jump the 130s with ease and even when he was 19, he could jump the 115 cm classes without breaking a sweat. When I first rode him I barely knew how to jump. I couldn't even get around a course without falling off but he's an angel. He rarely misbehaved and taught me the basics of jumping."

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By this time, the pandemic had hit. However, the Embassy allowed Ashish Limaye's students to stay at the riding school and continue to train. Ananya, her friends, and Ashish lived at the school for six months. "He was the most influential coach I had the opportunity to train with," Ananya says. They would ride in the morning, go to school, ride again after, and in keeping with Ashish's rule for his students, work out after riding. "Under Ashish, I competed at two Junior National Equestrian Championships in India," she says.

[caption id="attachment_36301" align="aligncenter" width="426"] Ananya Settipalli with Ashish Limaye at the Embassy International Riding School[/caption]

Back to the US

In a stroke of bad luck, Ananya came down with a fairly severe case of Covid 19 in 2020. At this point, her parents decided to go back to the US, this time to Texas, partly for the good schools and also because they had found Ananya a great coach, Kai Handt.

In 2021, Ananya began riding under Handt, who is also one of the top coaches in the US for para-equestrians, at the North Texas Equestrian Center. Then, in 2022, she bought her current horse from Kai, NTEC Classico, a seven-year-old gelding "with impeccable breeding lines and amazing scope in jumping and dressage," Ananya says. That year, she competed at her first regional championship in 2022.

She attended her second regionals in 2023, this time on another of Kai Handt's best horses, the NTEC Falstaff. This time, the idea was to qualify for the United States Dressage Finals. They qualified and made it to the event in Lexington, Kentucky.

A different ecosystem

Being an equestrian in the US, Ananya says, is a very different experience from being one in India. For starters, the average level is much higher - the best riders in India struggle to even qualify when they first arrive in Germany or the US. "It's much more competitive in the US because it's a much more popular sport," she says. Shows also work differently and it took some adjusting to at first.

"After I bought NTEC Classico, it became easier because consistency is key. Having a horse to ride five days a week definitely helps when you compete with that same horse." Another difference is that riders in the US are expected to do a lot more for their horses. "In India, in HRPC and Embassy, they would know what time I would be there and have the horses ready to ride and take care of them afterward. But in America, at most barns, you tack up your own horse, untack them, and take care of them when you're done riding," Ananya explains. "It's a very different experience, but I like taking care of my horse better because it allows you to build a connection with them."

[caption id="attachment_36294" align="aligncenter" width="492"] Ananya and her father, with NTEC Classico[/caption]

The ties that bind

In dressage, a strong bond between horse and rider is key, where everything is about trust, respect, empathy, and teamwork. That's why Ananya focusses on spending consistent time with her horse, not just during the training but also by doing everyday activities like grooming and so on. "Communication is huge, I try to be clear and consistent with my cues so my horse knows what I'm asking for and I make sure to give plenty of praise and maybe a treat here and there." There are challenges of course, as with any relationship. "But I've learned to approach them with patience and understanding. It's not just about winning ribbons in the arena; it's about having a true partnership with your horse."

Ananya hopes to keep winning but says it's more than just about accolades. "It's about deepening my understanding of horses and enriching their lives through thoughtful training and care." She also wants to continue training, saying, "I aim to compete at higher level competitions and hopefully international ones as well."