Bengaluru girl Nakshatra, 10, chases chess dream her father couldn't

Ten-year-old Nakshatra Gumudavelly from Bengaluru is India's No. 1 chess player in the U-10 category, pursuing a dream her father Naresh was forced to abandon due to a lack of financial support. Nakshatra began playing at age six after watching her father during the Covid-19 pandemic. She has won multiple Karnataka state titles, a bronze at the Asian Youth Championships, and three gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Championships. Her father, an IT engineer, has spent around 35-40 lakh rupees on tournaments and is seeking sponsorship from private firms and government officials. Nakshatra trains six hours daily and aspires to become a Grandmaster and world champion.