Aug 5, 2025: Tanishka of Bathinda has become the youngest female from Punjab to earn an international chess rating. She reached this milestone at the age of eight years and four months while competing in the National Chess Tournament (Under-9 category) in Gurugram last month. In accordance with FIDE's standard calculation method, the ratings were officially released in August. During the first week of each month, the International Chess Federation, or FIDE (French: Fédération Internationale des Échecs), publishes new and updated ratings worldwide. Tanvir Kaur Khinda was Punjab's youngest FIDE-rated female player when she was just over nine years old. To secure an initial FIDE rating, a player must compete in at least five games against already-rated opponents and score a minimum of one point (either through a win or two draws). According to revised FIDE guidelines, the player's performance must also meet the rating floor of 1,400 or higher. Speaking to The Tribune, Tanishka’s mother Meenu Garg shared that her daughter began playing chess at the age of four. Pankaj Shama, a chess coach who lived near their Bathinda home, was teaching her older son. Tanishka quickly picked up the game because she often went with her brother. Meenu recalled, "The coach felt she had progressed sufficiently to compete in a tournament after a couple of months." Tanishka finished second in the Under-9 division of the Punjab State Chess Championship when she was six years old. Later, she competed in the Senior Women's Championship in Bathinda and won with a score of 2 out of 5 points. This demonstrated her talent and prompted the family to put more money into her training. Punjab State Chess Association president Ankush Kathuria confirmed that Tanishka is the youngest female player in the state to earn a FIDE rating.
In a social media post, he stated, "We are immensely proud to announce that Tanishka has achieved her FIDE rating, becoming the youngest rated female chess player from Punjab." Kathuria continued, "This incredible milestone is a story of Tanishka's steadfast dedication, discipline, and love for the game, not only from her parents, who have invested immense time, energy, and emotion in nurturing her passion for chess." Her journey is a reminder to every family that dreams come true when pursued with sincerity, consistency and sacrifice.”
According to Tanishka Garg's parents, Bhushan and Meenu Garg, their daughter is currently coached by Sourabh Arora and Deepak Batra. Silver Oaks School, located on Dabwali Road in Bathinda, has also been extremely supportive. “We’re deeply grateful to the coaches, the school principal and the management for everything they’ve done,” Meenu added.