There is a tense silence in the classroom as Vaishnavi hovers over one of the rooks, her mind mulling over the many possibilities before her fingers move. Till a few weeks ago, the Class 8 student at Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) in Vajidu in Telangana’s Mulugu district was afraid of even touching the chess board for long periods of time. But today, she spends at least an hour every day returning to the 64 squares, plotting strategies she once thought she would never understand.
His confidence increased as he realized he was not an outsider; About 70 of the 150 students of classes 7 and 8 at this government school, located about 300 km from Hyderabad near the Chhattisgarh border in an area known for Maoist activity, are now gathering around the checker board daily, turning chess into an unexpected routine on the campus.
Using the digital boards available on the campus, the school’s physical director, Tailam Rajyalakshmi, has been continuously coaching the children. Many players mainly come from the Koya tribal community, and for many of them, this is the first structured game they have ever learned.
What is unfolding in Wazeedu represents a small but clear excerpt Widespread changes across TelanganaWhere government schools, colleges and public institutions are continuously adopting chess. This growing interest is largely driven by Chess Network, a non-profit organization supported by committed NRIs who see the game as a powerful educational tool that strengthens cognitive skills while keeping children away from digital distractions.
Rajyalakshmi says, “I participated in a chess tournament organized by Chess Network during the Bathukamma festival in Hanamkonda. On my request, it has provided 10 boards and promised to help more.”
Explaining the inspiration behind the initiative, Sudhir Kodati, founder of Chess Network, says that it aims to curb the rising cellphone addiction and other bad habits among the youth. “Lack of proper guidance leads to unhealthy distractions among many students, so we NRIs with local support are trying to get them involved in sports,” he explains.
Kodathi, who hails from a farming family from Dandepalle village in Hanamkonda district, has been living in Ottawa, Canada for almost two decades. Before starting the Chess Movement, he established a Rural Library Foundation to promote reading in villages. With the support of fellow NRIs – including Ravi Prakash Myreddy of Palamuru NRI Forum and Sierra Atlantic founder Raju Reddy from Nizamabad – the Chess Network has taken the game to classrooms and community spaces across Telangana.
Calling the game an integral part of India’s cultural fabric, California-based cardiologist Sujith Reddy Punnam, who is also associated with the Chess Network, describes the initiative as “a deeply creative effort to help youth reconnect with its enduring appeal”.
Kodati says the organization plans to distribute 15,000 chessboards to villages across Telangana by the end of this academic year. To further deepen the interest, it hosted a civic reception for Grandmaster Arjun Erigaysi of Warangal last December. It also trains teachers and organizes tournaments at the university level in collaboration with government officials and NGOs.
In erstwhile Mahabubnagar district, Palamuru NRI Forum has distributed another 12,000 boards. “The forum was formed 15 years ago, and remained dormant for some time. We revived it three years ago and have been actively promoting chess in the United Mahabubnagar region since then,” says Mayreddy, who lives in Philadelphia. Originally from a non-descript village in Wanaparthy district, he has a PhD in Chemistry and has been involved in service activities, especially in the education sector, for a long time.
Vimala K., a former University of Chicago teacher and forum member, talks about her work at the Rani Indira Devi Government School in Kollapur, Nagarkurnool district. “More than 500 children participated in the special coaching sessions. I have seen remarkable improvement in their attitude and learning,” she says.
This initiative has also received support from the district education authorities. In Kamareddy district, chess boards have been supplied to all the schools in Ramareddy mandal. District Education Officer S. “The goal is to promote a chess culture that keeps students away from harmful habits,” says Raju.
Among those who contributed to this initiative is Rama Lingampalli from the Wisconsin Telangana Association in the US. During his recent visit to India, he distributed around 100 chessboards to three village schools in the Jammikunta area (Karimnagar). “We also met Peddapalli Collector Mr. Harsh Koya, who assured full support to the work of the Chess Network in the district,” she says.
As interest grows, the organization is gaining wider recognition. “Chicago Telangana Association has come forward to join us. Six American kids, all professional chess players, have also expressed interest in participating in terms of coaching the students and training the trainers,” Kodati informed.
Chess Network is also expanding its presence in junior and degree colleges including Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), Basar. Reflecting this momentum, Bharat Parsa, a second-year student of the pre-university course, says many youngsters are taking up the sport. Network Support and Vice Chancellor A. With Govardhan’s encouragement, a chess club was recently launched in the university. “Apart from playing every day, I encourage my brothers and sisters at Tupran to learn sports,” says Parsa, who spends at least an hour every day at the Student Activity Center on campus.
According to Kodati, the idea is to train students in institutions like RGUKT so that they can train children in their villages/native places during holidays. Chess Network recently organized tournaments at Basar Complex as part of this effort.
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cognitive and social development
As concerns grow over screen addiction and digital distractions, chess is finding new relevance as a tool for cognitive, emotional and social development. Hyderabad-based consultant psychiatrist Shiva Anoop Yella believes that chess can significantly reduce children’s dependence on social media and online gaming. He says, “Chess improves focus, self-control and flexibility. In an age when children are vulnerable to screen addiction, it provides a healthy and intellectually enriching alternative.”
In Hyderabad, echoes of the movement are being heard in the inner parts of the city as well. Hyderabad Inner City Basti Sports Academy in collaboration with Chess Network recently organized its second sports tournament in Uppal with an aim to steer children from slum communities away from bad habits and towards constructive sports. With Kabaddi, Chess, Racing and Shotput as per schedule, the event was attended by over 600 participants. The academy today operates 30 centers across the city.
The initiative is being led by Narendra Cheguri, a physical education teacher at a private school, who says the larger objective is to identify talent early and ensure that promising youth are not left behind due to lack of access. The academy now plans to formally register itself and start supplying sports equipment, jerseys and transportation to children who show potential.
The Basti Khel movement is receiving appreciation from educationists and child rights advocates. Renowned child rights activist Shanta Sinha attended the closing ceremony of the tournament as the chief guest and lauded organizations such as Extra Mile Foundation, Jan Pragati Seva Charitable Trust and Srivyal Puram Foundation for enabling access to sports in vulnerable communities.
Encouraging tribal youth
Beyond the slums of Hyderabad, similar efforts are strengthening prospects in tribal areas too. Hi5 Youth Foundation and BookASmile are offering basketball coaching through the Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGTWREIS) Girls Sports School in Chegunta, Medak and the new, modern courts at Jinnaram in Sangareddy. Built at a cost of approximately ₹30 lakh each, these facilities are expected to nurture a new generation of tribal basketball talent.
Part of Hi5’s ‘Hope Through Hoops’ programme, the project is backed by US-based NRIs like Ram Ramgiri, who says it aims to equip young players with life skills and a path to excellence.
Students of Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institute Society Girls Sports School in Chegunta are participating in basketball coaching on the campus. , Photo Courtesy: Nagara Gopal
For Dhanavatha Sunitha, a Class 9 student in Chegunta, the impact is already visible. Having joined the school in Class 5, she has played at the state level and now believes she can compete at the national level. “Thanks to the principal, officials and Hi5 Foundation, I feel reassured,” she says.
According to TGTWREIS officials, trained coaches have been appointed at both the centres. “So far, 25 students have participated in state-level tournaments and five have played at the national level,” said a senior official.
Tribal Welfare Minister Adaluri Laxman Kumar says that the department has given priority to sports in residential schools for a long time. TGTWREIS launched 20 Mini Sports Academies across its institutes in 2018-19, covering 12 sports disciplines and imparting training to students from Class 5 to degree level. It aims to provide specialized coaching that prepares them for national and international competitions.
The minister said the society has also set up two dedicated sports schools within the existing institutions – one for boys at Ethurnagaram and the other for girls at Chegunta. These schools offer advanced coaching, strong infrastructure and expert trainers to help promising athletes reach the highest levels.
Many of the players who have achieved success in sports in Telangana come from humble backgrounds and have been shaped by coaches who recognized their promise long before the formal systems. Experts say, however, that lack of qualified trainers remains a challenge in many districts. However, initiatives like the Gopichand-Mytra Foundation are helping bridge this gap by supporting rural athletes through coaching, funding and academic support.
“The continued success of Telangana, especially in rural parts, is due to the strong foundation provided by state-run sports schools and the government’s willingness to go the extra mile to help young athletes dream big,” says veteran sports journalist VV Subramaniam.
A new sports school, club on the cards
A major effort was made to strengthen this pipeline with the inauguration of a sports school in Hanamkonda by Sports and Youth Services Minister Vakithi Srihari on November 15 this year.
Established by the Sports Authority of Telangana (SATS), the organization aims to identify and groom promising athletes at the grassroots level. It will start with 80 students and eventually shift to a permanent campus equipped with world-class facilities. The new school will provide specialized training in athletics, gymnastics, wrestling and other disciplines, which will be carefully integrated with academics so that sporting aspirations do not come at the expense of education.
Chief Minister A. The Revanth Reddy led state government is increasing its commitment towards sports development. Recent initiatives include the Young India Physical Education and Sports University and the Guru Vandanam Scheme, which provides accident insurance of up to ₹15 lakh for coaches. It is also exploring advanced job reservations for athletes who have achieved notable success.
SATS President K.Sivasena Reddy says the Chief Minister is also considering setting up a sports club in Hyderabad on the lines of New Delhi and Bengaluru, which he believes will benefit both current and former athletes.
Following the recent visit of the SATS President to a privately constructed rink in Bhongir, there are also plans to build a skating rink at the Gachibowli Stadium.
