Vantika Agrawal targets in 2025: Achieve Grandmaster title, reach top 10 spot

Vantika Agrawal was part of the Chess Olympiad team that won the historic gold medal.

After a superb 2024, Vantika Agrawal is hoping to take the next step in her chess career this year. The 22-year-old International Master, who played the decisive board that helped Indian women’s team clinch a historic gold at the Chess Olympiad last year, is now focused on achieving the grandmaster title—that could make her the fourth Indian woman to earn that feather.

Having started playing chess since the age of seven and winning her first major gold two years later, Vantika is now also a recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award. That was deserved especially after her achievements in recent months—the individual gold at the Olympiad adding cherry to her past honours that includes as Asian Games team silver, Online Chess Olympiad gold (2020), and the Women Grandmaster title.

In an Interaction with Khel Now, Vantika shared about her future goals, support from family and internal competition among compatriots/friends. Let’s look at some excerpt from the exclusive interview.

How did you feel when you won the Arjuna Award?

Vantika Agarwal: I felt on top of the world when I received the Arjuna Award. When you win medals for India, and then the Government recognizes your efforts, and to receive the award from the President was a wonderful moment for me. I keep replaying that moment and it’s such a proud moment for me, my family, and everyone who has supported me.

What is your long-term and short-term goals for the future?

Vantika Agrawal: My short-term goal will be to achieve the grandmaster title as soon as possible. So, for that, I’ll be playing a lot of tournaments, and the long-term is to reach the top 10 in the world and aim for the World Championship title.

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After Humpy and Harika, now you, Divya and Vaishali are the face the Indian women’s chess. How do you handle that pressure and expectations?

Vantika Agrawal: It just makes it more exciting. India is getting stronger, not just in men’s division but also in the women’s category. Now we also have such a strong team, Humpy Konreu and Harika Dronavalli are strong elite players, with so much experience. Then we have me, Divya Deshmukh, Vaishali R and so many more talented female players who are coming up. So, I think we want to play well and win many more medals for India in the upcoming years.

Also Read: Top five greatest Indian chess players of all-time

How do you rate the friendly rivalry between you, Vaishali, Divya and other upcoming Indian chess players?

Vantika Agrawal: All of us are very good friends. We keep talking with each other. We are mostly playing in the same tournaments and train together. So, I think there’s friendly competition, and we are learning from each other a lot. There’s a very good bond among us.

Can you tell us about your chess career? How has your family supported you in this?

Vantika Agrawal: My mom has been travelling with me throughout the past 14 years. I’m a pure vegetarian, and we hardly find vegetarian food outside [abroad], so she cooks food and she’s morally there to support me. Whenever I feel down or feel demotivated, she motivates me so that I comeback even stronger.

Before I started getting sponsorship from Pravaha, my father was managing all the expenses—including tournament entry fees, coaching, travel, hotel and everything else.

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My brother Vishesh has also been very supportive. Since our mother will always travel with me in different tournaments, he was left at home. But he never complained about anything like “why are you treating one child differently?” and “you should spend time more time with me also”. So, I think my whole family, and not just them, but everyone has come together, including the sponsors, and friends to support me.

What was your mother’s initial reactions after you won the individual and team gold at the Chess Olympiad?

Vantika Agrawal: She was so delighted and super happy that it finally happened. I was playing well till the last round. Also, before the last round, I knew I would clinch the gold if I won and so didn’t want something wrong to happen that would lead me to losing that medal. So, she was relieved, happy and was very delighted that I could handle that pressure and win that game. That’s the proudest moment for any parent.

How do you like to spend your time when away from chess?

Vantika Agrawal: I like to do yoga and meditation in the morning as it helps me to relax more. I like to go to the gym and play table tennis. I have table tennis board at home, so I like to play that with my dad and sometimes watch some movies with my family to relax.

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