YOUTH ICONS: DIVYA DESHMUKH, A RISING STAR IN INDIAN CHESS

                    Photo: Frans Peeters / CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

DIVYA DESHMUKH: A RISING STAR IN INDIAN CHESS 

In the world of chess, India has steadily become a powerhouse, producing one brilliant mind after another. Among the new generation of players, Divya Deshmukh stands tall as a true youth icon—an inspiration for countless young minds who aspire to achieve greatness through focus, discipline, and relentless practice.

Who is Divya Deshmukh?

Born: 9 December 2005, Nagpur, Maharashtra

Titles: Woman Grandmaster (2021), International Master (2022)

Known for her aggressive style of play and ability to handle high-pressure situations with maturity beyond her years.

From a very young age, Divya showed exceptional talent and determination. With the support of her family and coaches, she quickly rose through the ranks of Indian chess, winning age-group titles and making her mark at the international level.

Major Achievements

2022 – Winner of the National Women’s Chess Championship (India)

2023 – Asian Women’s Champion; Champion of Tata Steel Women’s Rapid Chess, defeating top competitors including Ju Wenjun, Harika, and Humpy Koneru

2024 – World U-20 Girls (Junior) Champion; Individual gold medalist on Board 3 at the Chess Olympiad, contributing to India’s team gold

2025 – FIDE Women’s World Cup Champion, defeating Humpy in the final; earned the Grandmaster title; qualified for the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026

Recognition – Honored by the Maharashtra government with ₹3 crore in support and a robust infrastructure push to nurture future talent

Why Divya Is a True Youth Icon

1. Phenomenal Results Under Pressure

From tight finals to rapid tiebreaks, Divya has shown unmatched calm and resilience.

2. Balancing Academics & Chess

At just 19, she’s excelling as a student and a global chess force simultaneously. 

3. Trailblazer for Indian Women in Chess

She’s the first Indian woman to win the Women’s World Cup and the fourth Indian female GM—a breakthrough in a male-dominated field. 

4. Inspiring the Next Generation

With her achievements and media attention, she has become an aspirational figure for aspiring young chess players nationwide.

Divya’s Message to the Youth

Divya often emphasizes the importance of practice, patience, and persistence. She believes that success does not come overnight but through small, consistent steps taken every day.

Conclusion

Divya Deshmukh is not just a chess prodigy; she is a symbol of what India’s youth can achieve with courage, determination, and focus. As she continues to grow, the nation looks forward to her scaling even greater heights and perhaps one day bringing the Women’s World Chess Championship crown to India.

"Chess teaches you to think ahead, stay calm under pressure, and make the right move at the right time — lessons that apply not only to the game, but to life itself.” – Divya Deshmukh

Grateful thanks to ChatGPT for its great help and support in creating this blogpost and Wikimedia Commons for the charming photograph of Divya Deshmukh.

CRICKET ICONS

Mohammed Siraj (born 13 March 1994) is an Indian international cricketer who plays as a right-arm fast bowler for the Indian team. He also plays for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League and Hyderabad in domestic cricket. He was a part of the squad which won the 2023 Asia Cup and was the Player of the Match in the final. Siraj was also a member of the team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup.

In October 2017, he was named in India's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against New Zealand. He made his T20I debut for India against New Zealand on 4 November 2017, taking the wicket of Kane Williamson, finishing with figures of 1 wicket for 53 runs from four overs.

In February 2018, he was named in India's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the 2018 Nidahas Trophy.  In September 2018, he was named in India's Test squad for their series against the West Indies, but he did not play. In December 2018, he was named in India's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against Australia. He made his ODI debut against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on 15 January 2019.

On 26 October 2020, Siraj was named in India's Test squad for their series against Australia. After some deliberation to choose between Navdeep Saini and Siraj following an injury to Mohammad Shami, Siraj was chosen ahead of Saini, and he made his Test debut for India on 26 December 2020, against Australia. His first Test wicket was of Marnus Labuschagne. In January 2021, during the fourth Test of the series against Australia, Siraj took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

In January 2023, Siraj played important role in the Ind vs NZ ODI series. He took 4 wickets in the first ODI which helped the team to win the match for 12 runs.

On 21 January 2023, Siraj became the No. 1 ODI Bowler in ICC ODI Rankings for Bowlers.

On 21 August 2023, Siraj was selected to play for India and his name was included in the 15 Man squad announced by BCCI ahead of 2023 Asia Cup.

On 17 September 2023, in the Asia Cup final, Siraj became the joint fastest bowler to take a 6 wicket haul in ODIs equaling Chaminda Vaas's record of taking 5 wicket in 16 balls against Bangladesh in 2003 World Cup. He ended with a career best figure of 6/21 and also became the 1st Indian to take 4 wickets in an over.

In May 2024, he was named in India’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.

In June 2025, he was named in India's squad for the inaugural Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy. During the series, he got his fourth and fifth 5-wicket hauls in tests, claiming 6 wickets in the first innings of the second match and 5 wickets in the second innings of the fifth match. He was awarded the Player of the Match award for his latter performance. He was also the highest wicket-taker of the series, taking 23 total wickets in 9 innings.

His recent 9 wicket haul in the 5th cricket test between India and England made him a great hero in the minds of cricket fans.

Excerpt from WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA 

Grateful thanks to WIKIPEDIA