Harika Dronavalli

Harika Dronavalli, born on January 12, 1991, is a chess sensation from Guntur, India. Starting chess at five, she quickly rose to become a Woman Grandmaster at 14 and achieved Grandmaster status in 2011. Known for her strategic brilliance, Harika has won several national championships and represented India internationally. Breaking barriers for Indian women in chess, she inspires many with her dedication and success. Harika Dronavalli stands as a role model, showcasing that with passion and skill, one can excel in the competitive realm of chess. Harika follows the Legendary Indian Chess player Viswanathan Anand.

Her Achievements:-

• Won silver in World Youth Chess ChampionshipU-10 Girls, Spain.
• She bagged two silvers, one in World Youth Chess Championship U-12 Girls, Spain & the other in Asian Under-12 Girls Chess Championship, Bikaner in 2001.
• Won goldin Asian U-18 Girls Chess Championship, Bikaner in 2002.
• In the 2003 Commonwealth Women Chess Championship, Mumbai won Silver Medal.
• She won the 2004 girls U-14 World Youth Chess Championship, held in Greece.
• She won the 2006 girls U-18 World Youth Chess Championship, held in Georgia.
• Harika won the Woman International Master (WIM) title as the Youngest Woman International Master in Asian Continent.
• Bagged gold in Asian Zonal Women Chess Championship, Bangladesh, in 2007.
• She won the World Junior Chess Championship, held in Turkey in 2008
• Awarded with the "Arjuna Award" by the Government of India in 2008
• Harika bagged a bronze medal at the Asian Games of 2010, held in Guangzhou.
• She won a silver medal in the 2015 World Women's Team Chess Championship, held in China.
• Harika won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Women's Chess Championship, held in Russia.
• Harika Dronavalli bagged gold at the 2015 World Women's Online Blitz Championship held in Rome.
• Harika gained the 5th position in the 2016 FIDE Women Grand Prix held in Khanty Mansiysk and a gold medal at the same event held in Chengdu in 2016.
• As a team participant of India at the 2016 Asian Women Team Chess Championship held in UAE, she has won an Individual Gold medal in Rapid format & Individual Silver Medal on Top Board in Classical format while the team won the bronze Medal in Rapid format.
• Harika Dronavalli won a bronze medal at the 2017 Women's World Chess Championship in Iran.
• Awarded with Chess Player of the Year in 2016 & 2017 by The Times of India (TOISA Annual Awards).
• She got featured by Verve magazine in 2017 amongst the year's top 40 famous women sportspersons.
• Bestowed on the Padma Shri on the Republic Day in 2019.
•  Harika won a Silver Medal at the 2021 FIDE Women's World Team Championship.
• She won Bronze Medal at FIDE Online Chess Olympiad 2021.