Dweep Tulika

April 18, 2026 | New Delhi The journey of Indian chess player R. Vaishali from a young enthusiast to a Women’s World Championship challenger has been marked by discipline, resilience, and strong mentorship, according to her long-time coach R.B. Ramesh. Having trained her for over a decade, Ramesh offered insights into both her professional growth and personal character, highlighting the sustained effort behind her rise on the global stage. Recalling a recent tournament in Cyprus where Vaishali was on the brink of a major victory, Ramesh described an emotional moment when he arrived just in time to witness her stepping onto the stage. The moment reflected the culmination of years of hard work and shared commitment between coach and player. According to him, such milestones represent not just competitive success but also the emotional weight of a long journey. Ramesh traced the origins of this journey back to 2014, when he first connected with Vaishali’s family. Recognising the potential...

Port Blair , 18 Apr : Little Andaman has recently hosted a national-level surfing competition, marking a notable development in India’s water sports landscape. The event, titled Little Andaman Pro 2026 , was conducted at Butler Bay over a period of four days and saw participation from surfers representing different parts of the country. In the main competition categories, Sivaraj Babu secured the top position in the men’s open division, while Kamali Moorthy emerged as the winner in the women’s open category. Kamali Moorthy also recorded the highest score of the event, making her performance one of the key highlights of the championship. Apart from traditional surfing events, the competition also included Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) sprint races , expanding the scope of participation. In these events, Dinesh Selvamani won the men’s category, while Vijayalakshmi Irulappan secured the top position in the women’s category. The championship featured a mix of experienced competitors and ...