Nepali Women Progressing In Chess
WCM Monalisha Khamboo:
Held in 2008, Kathmandu, it was the first National women’s chess championship which paved the way for female players in Nepal. It was won by Monalisha Khamboo who won again in 2016.Having represented Nepal in 3 Chess Olympiads, she is an inspirational figure in chess community and paved the way for more female players. She is actively participating in chess tournaments and making sure that female players can play chess freely and enjoy it. She is Head of Women’s Commission and Executive Board Member of Nepal Chess Association(NCA). She is a Fide trainer, fide arbiter and Board Member at Institute of Sports Science and Research Nepal,
Here is a video of her interview by IM Sagar Shah
WFM Sujana Lohani
Nepal’s first Women’s Fide Master and current national champion, Lohani has been instrumental in her chess journey. She scored 9/9 in classical format of 6th National Women’s Chess Championship. She pursued science in +2 and obtained her WFM title in 2016 Olympiad, Baku with the score of 7/9 while studying in grade11at GoldenGate International College(GGIC).She also scored 8/11 points in 2018 which is highest score obtained by a Nepali player in Chess Olympiad. She has represented Nepal in 2 Chess Olympiads (2016 and 2018) (over the board).
She scored an amazing win vs the winner of Asian Zonal WFM Sulatana Sharmin Shirin held in Bangladesh (Note: annotations will be added later).
Recently she scored 8/9 in Fide Online Chess Olympiad but Nepal failed to qualify to next stage despite her best efforts.
Interview
Early Days:
“My brother used to play at home and l learned from watching games between him and his friend. One day, during tiffin break(She studied at Greenland English Boarding School , Gongabu, Kathmandu) me and my friend whom I used to play with went to see selection for chess tournament just for curiosity. There I met FM Manish Hamal who asked if I wanted to play? That’s how it all started.”
Challenges Faced:
“I feel blessed that my parents have been supportive towards me to play tournaments with long durations which was not easy those days. Managing studies and chess training was not easy. Especially pursuing science in +2 and playing Chess Olympiad of 2016(grade 11) was not comfortable at all.”
Chess Situation of female players in Nepal:
“Nowadays a lot of importance has been given to prize fund, female chess players (such as one player must be female in a team) which motivates us. Different chess club are helping to train female chess players and grow our playing strength. As a National chess champion I would like to thank NCA for bearing all the cost, expenses during chess tournaments which is a major attraction for new players. Now there is more support for female players from family members to play chess and travel for chess tournaments due to friend’s circle.”
Future Plans:
“I want to win gold medal for Nepal in Olympiad in our division. To achieve WIM title is my present goal. I am also eager to improve chess situation for female chess players especially after lockdown”
Suggestions for the new female players, parents, schools, authority:
“In my opinion, chess should be included in schools as compulsory subject for kids of young age (5 to 10 years), as it helps to improve social skills, logic, calculation, memory and reasoning. It can be a great tool for building relationship between grandparents and kids. Increasing prize fund will even motivate us as chess players. Parents should avoid mindset that chess hampers studies and should involve with chess and kids even more which will help to build trust and affection between them.“
Sindira Joshi:
Winner of the 4th Women National Chess Championship 2073 she is an inspirational figure in chess community as she is playing chess even after marriage and two kids. She represented Nepal in Chess Olympiad held in 2018 after birth of her second child. She had to leave her five months old son to play in the Chess Olympiad.
Early days:
My dad was my first chess teacher who taught me and my sister. We used to play chess at our shop where my mother used to call if anyone wanted to play chess. I also played with my friends while teaching kids at primary level. Later I trained with Rijendra Sir(FM Rijendra Raj Bhandari who trained her during her title winning year 2016) without whom I wouldn't have reached here.
Chess Set at her home.
Challenges:
“At first, people were not supported that girls should play chess and used to comment in sarcastic way. I played in two chess tournaments before I was married then continued my chess career which was hard. I played national chess championship and co-operative chess tournament after 6 years of marriage. When I gave birth to my second child, the training for chess tournament was being held. I had to leave my child after 45 days of his birth to focus on chess training which was not easy, mentally and physically. Managing time for chess was hard as my kids needed most of the time. During those times and now, my family is my biggest strength who helped me to play in chess Olympiad which is one of my biggest chess events I’ve ever played.”
With her kids and husband after 6th Women's National Chess Championship
where she won sliver medal.
Chess Situation of Female players in Nepal:
Nowadays, a lot of female can play chess freely, but the number of tournaments has not been satisfactory. The prize fund for female chess tournaments is less as compared to boys. Nowadays I see parents being active in chess tournaments which is a good sign. I liked the concept of compulsory involvement of at least one female player in chess team for hetauda which will bring more importance and value to female chess players.
Future plans:
“Just as Sujana said in her interview, I also want to win gold medal for Nepal in our chess playing division. I am still motivated to win another national championship and to obtain WIM title for Nepal. I am interested in seeing progress of girls in school and want to contribute as much as I could.”
Suggestions for the new female players, parents, authority, school:
“First of all, parents should help their children if they are interested in chess. Schools should conduct regular chess classes which will help to create a chess playing environment for girls. Losing is a major part of chess, so one shouldn’t be demotivated and should fight back. Tournaments on a regular basis will definitely improve the scenario in the future.”
Due to lack of time, I couldn't write about WCM Suruchee Thing who was the first title holder among women chess players as well as national champions Bina Jaiswal, Tara Ghale which will be covered soon.
For now I leave you with a video about National chess champions
.
Review of Some Chess Tournaments For Female Chess Players :
Hera Maya Shrestha Memorial Nationwide Women's Chess Tournament-2076
Organized by Kathmandu chess association on the occasion of women's day ,31 players participated in Hera Maya Shrestha Memorial Nationwide Women’s Chess Tournament 2076. WFM and current National Women champion Sujana Lohani was the top seed. There are 22 rated players. It was last official women’s chess tournament before lockdown in Nepal. It was won by Sujana Lohani with 6.5/7 points. The games were also board casted from Follow chess.(Some of the interesting games have been inserted already, you can see the games here).
Top 3 female players
Thapathali Chess Park:
One of the most influential clubs of Nepal Thapathali Chess Park have been organizing chess tournaments for female players. They have so far organized many chess tournaments in rapid format which targets to help female players to have a peaceful environment to play and learn from the talented players of Nepal which will help to uplift their playing strength. Average number of rated female chess players was 10and more than 20 females have participated in these monthly chess tournaments.
Learning form CM Madan Krishna Kayastha
Keshav Shrestha,
Being two-time national chess champion Keshav Shrestha has been one of the front faces who has contributed to increase chess players in Nepal with various schools in which he inspires young kids/girls to play chess.
One of such tournament was Mridusha Shrestha Memorial Inter School Chess Tournament-2020.In which total 47 girls participated in across three categories (8 to10,5 to 7 and1to 4) whereas the number of girls participating in 15th Annapurna Maitri Inter School Open Chess Competition-2076 was 82 under 4 age categories
(U-16=29, U-14=12, U-12=41, U-10=19).
Here are some pictures of these tournament
Future Events:
The upcoming event as seen in pictures has given importance to female players ,so that they can grow in numbers as well as to increase their playing strength. As every team must have at least one girl/U-16 player it makes team focus on female players and young chess prodigies. 
Hope that you liked the blog. Please mention your views so that we can create a better chess environment in the future starting from today.
May this women's day bring positive impact in the lives of women in upcoming days.
