Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusivePowering up: Gamer Akarsh Chaudhary is taking over the world of e-gaming

Powering up: Gamer Akarsh Chaudhary is taking over the world of e-gaming

Written by: Team GI Youth

(March 21, 2024) Over the past few years, India’s online gaming scene has boomed like never before, propelling it among the world’s top three gaming markets. Although not yet a traditional career choice, numerous young people now spend their afternoons competing in professional tournaments. Among them is gamer Akarsh Chaudhary, also known as Vivone, a nine-year-old from Mumbai. Despite his tender age, he has not only taken part in but also emerged victorious in numerous tournaments.

The young child embarked on his gaming adventure at the age of four, inspired by watching his father play popular games like PUBG on his mobile device. “I asked my father if I could try the game, and he handed me his mobile. Instantly, I became hooked and began playing by myself. After practicing regularly for a couple of days, I even managed to defeat my father,” shared the young gamer.

Gamer Akarsh Chaudhary aka Vivone

With a substantial following of 108K followers on Instagram and over four lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel, Vivone has created more than 6000 live streams and videos. “Recently, I participated in the SkyEsports Streamers Showdown, competing against numerous top gamers from around the country. I clinched the first prize of ₹15 lakh, impressing even my opponents with my performance throughout the tournament,” said the gamer, whose average earning through live streaming games is around $6000-7000 per month.

Game on

Amid the challenges of the lockdown, numerous individuals sought refuge in online gaming, including Akarsh’s father, Vivek Singh. Unbeknownst to the IT professional, this pastime would eventually serve as the inspiration for his son’s career. “Initially, when I started playing, it was purely for enjoyment. However, my father soon noticed my potential and began coaching me accordingly. He taught me a variety of moves and tricks that significantly improved my game,” said the Global Indian.

Akarsh with his parents, Shikha and Vivek

Recognising his potential, his father commenced live streaming his games under his gamer alias Vivone, which phonetically sounds like “we won”. Shortly after, Rooter, Vivone’s streaming platform partner, received a surge of offers from gadget companies, fantasy apps, and even some FMCG brands, willing to pay up to ₹1 lakh for video collaborations. Vivone is proficient in playing games across multiple platforms, be it mobile, PC, or console. Talking about his favourite games, he said, “I really enjoy playing BGMI the most, but right now, Valorant is my top favourite. I like messing around with its characters and maps. I also like playing CODM, Fall Guys, Tekken 7, Rocket League, New State Mobile, Pokemon, and other little mobile games.”

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A balancing act

Although it’s fascinating, Akarsh’s parents take caution to ensure their son doesn’t spend all his time glued to his laptop. “If you really love something and want to do it well, you should start learning and practising early with someone to guide you,” the gamer’s father, Vivek, shared in an interview, adding, “We noticed our child’s talent and helped them get better at what they love. But we also make sure they do well in their studies and play physical games. Luckily, Akarsh enjoys playing football outside just as much as he enjoys playing it on the computer.”

Giving an insight into the young gamer’s day, Vivek shared, “Because Vivone streams games nearly every day, we decided not to give him too much schoolwork, so we chose to homeschool him. After he finishes his studies in the afternoon, Vivone streams for about two hours. Then, like any other kid, he plays with his friends, especially cricket or basketball. Sometimes in the evenings, I take him swimming too.”

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The road ahead

After winning against some of the best gamers in the country in various tournaments, Vivone is now preparing to represent India in international competitions. “When I first began playing, I never imagined having such a large following and subscriber base. Now, my main aim is to excel in international tournaments. I’m currently searching for tournaments for players under 13 years old, primarily organized in the US, Europe, Korea, and China,” the young gamer shared.

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Published on 21, Mar 2024

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Anjali Sharma: Leading the fight for climate justice in Australia

(October 8, 2024) "At the age of 16, I sued the government of Australia. I was the lead litigant in the Sharma and Minister for the Environment Class Action, which took the then Environment Minister Susan Lee to court, arguing that she owed, and was breaching, a duty of care to young people to protect us from the impacts of climate change," were Anjali Sharma's opening words at TEDxYouth Sydney. Now at the age of 19, as she is balancing her second year of law studies at the Australian National University in Canberra, her fight for climate justice is far from over. Far from the typical university experience, Anjali is at the forefront of a fight that could reshape how Australia tackles climate change. Her current mission? Rallying support for the Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity Bill 2023. This proposed amendment aims to make the government responsible for the long-term effects of its climate decisions, especially those involving fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. For Anjali, it's not just about changing a law—it's a personal mission to make sure future generations have a healthy planet to live on. [caption id="attachment_39795" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Anjali Sharma[/caption] From childhood in

ll wp-image-39795" src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/anjali1.webp" alt="Anjali Sharma | Global Indian" width="584" height="389" /> Anjali Sharma[/caption]

From childhood in India to climate crusader in Australia

But before Anjali Sharma became the poised and passionate advocate addressing large crowds and challenging ministers, she was a baby cradled in her mother's arms, moving from India to Australia at just ten months old. Born in India — a country she recognises as being on the frontline of climate change — her family emigrated to Melbourne, where she grew up as part of the thriving Indian diaspora - which is Australia's second largest and fastest growing overseas group. From a young age, Anjali saw the clear differences between the landscapes of India and Australia. However, it was only later that she realised how climate change made the inequalities between these two places even worse.

Anjali's path to activism wasn't sparked by a single dramatic event, instead it was a slow realisation. It all began when Anjali was 12 and visited India and felt guilty seeing how vulnerable her family and neighbors in Lucknow were to the harsh realities of climate change, like severe storms, extreme heat, and crumbling buildings. She felt it was unfair that she was safe when other's weren't. The trip ignited a sense of responsibility in her. However, she soon realised that she wasn't safe in Australia too after the 2019-20 bushfire left millions feeling anxious and unsettled. "There's not a single person, especially in the east of the country, who wasn’t touched by that. We still talk about seeing the sky orange for days, the thick blanket of smoke which made it so hard to go outside and just breathe," the Global Indian said in an interview. This led her to take more tangible action, setting the stage for her later lawsuit against the Australian government.

A personal journey: The awakening of a young activist

At 16, she took an extraordinary step when Anjali, along with seven other teens, sued the Federal Environment Minister in a landmark case that argued the government had a duty of care to protect young people from the risks of climate change. The Federal Court initially sided with Anjali and her group, stating that the Environment Minister had a duty to protect younger generations. However, this victory was short-lived because the government appealed the decision and overturned it in 2022. It was a hard blow for Sharma, but she didn’t let it stop her. "On one hand, we're urged to be the change we want to see in the world, but when it comes to advocacy, we're put in a box," she said in TedTalk.

Instead of letting her frustration hold her back, Anjali Sharma focused on more advocacy work, this time aiming at changing laws. She has been working hard to promote the Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity Bill 2023, which seeks to fix gaps in climate policy. This bill ensures that future decisions about coal, oil, and gas exploration consider the health and well-being of young Australians and future generations. Despite facing many challenges in Parliament, Anjali remains determined to see the bill succeed.

Legislative change: Fighting for future generations

Anjali's story is a strong example of climate activism, which means raising awareness and urging governments, companies, and communities to take quick and meaningful actions against climate change. At its core, climate activism aims to address the urgent need for changes in how societies interact with the environment, especially in how they take and use natural resources. It calls for big changes to ensure a sustainable future for everyone. "Young people need to know that you don't need to be the perfect activist…firstly, be aware of the injustice of the issue, and then be willing to use the skills that you already have to make a difference," she added.

For Anjali, climate activism is a way to deal with the overwhelming worry that many young people have about the future. This feeling, known as climate anxiety, is common among today’s youth. A 2020 study found that 78 percent of Australians aged 10 to 24 are very concerned about climate change, and this feeling is shared by teens worldwide. However, her activism offers hope for both herself and others. Her courage to take action against the odds proves that young people can truly make a difference.

For Sharma, climate activism has been a way to confront the overwhelming anxiety that many young people feel about the future. Known as climate anxiety, this chronic fear of environmental disaster is widespread among today's youth. In fact, a 2020 study found that 78% of Australians aged 10-24 are deeply concerned about climate change, a sentiment echoed by teens around the world. Yet, Sharma’s activism is a source of hope, both for herself and for others. Her ability to stand up and take action against the odds shows that even young people can make a difference.

Anjali Sharma is part of a growing group of young Indian diaspora activists in Australia. The Indian community, connected to one of the most climate-affected areas in the world, offers a unique viewpoint in the global climate movement. Many of these young activists, including Sharma, feel a responsibility not only to their new home but also to their homeland, which is still suffering from the severe effects of climate change. This dual sense of belonging and duty is fueling a new wave of activism that crosses borders and cultures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjcv_7LNKqQ

As Anjali Sharma continues her fight for climate justice, she carries the hopes of her peers and the legacy of her ancestors. She is a shining example of the power of youth activism, showing that age doesn’t stop anyone from making real, lasting change. Her journey, from her childhood in Lucknow to her groundbreaking legal battles in Australia, serves as an inspiring reminder that the future is not something to fear—it’s something worth fighting for.

As Anjali Sharma continues her fight for climate justice, she carries the hopes of her peers and the weight of her ancestors’ legacy. She embodies the power of youth activism, proving that age doesn’t limit one’s ability to create real, lasting change. Her journey, from her early years in Lucknow to her groundbreaking legal battles in Australia, serves as an inspiring reminder that the future is not something to fear—it is something to fight for.

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India’s Q-Commerce boom: Stanford dropouts’ startup, Zepto reaches valuation of $900 million

(May 12, 2022) In April 2021, Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, both 19-year-old Stanford dropouts, founded Zepto, a 10-minute grocery delivery startup. Nine months later, it's a hair's breadth away from being a unicorn, reaching a valuation of $900 million in May 2022. The Q-Commerce company bagged $200 million in a Series D funding round led by Y Combinator, with Kaiser Permanente joining in to back the company as well. All the existing investors - Nexus Venture Partners, Glade Brook Capital and Lachy Groom have increased their investments. Less than a year since it began operations, Zepto delivers 3,500 products in 11 cities in under 10 minutes. The company is looking at major expansion plans - to a dozen more cities in India. According to a company statement, Zepto will use the fresh capital to expand to more cities in India. Aggressive hiring is also on the cards, with the firm planning to bring 1000 employees on board in the next few months, across all functions. Funding has flowed in during their first year of operations. Last year, Zepto raised $100 million from Y Combinator's Continuity Fund, sending its valuation to $570 millions. it raised $60 million in the seed

million in the seed funding round.

"We posted 800 percent Q-o-Q revenue growth, while burn has come down 5X on a per-order basis," Aadit Palicha, co-founder and CEO, Zepto, told CNBC TV18. The team, he said, has also "maintained a phenomenal 88-Point NPS (Net Promoter Score) and 60 percent Month-1 Buyer Retention at scale. This unbelievable execution over the past few months has made it clear to investors that Zepto will be one of the winners in Indian Q-Commerce."

Zepto isn't Palicha and Vohra's first entry into the startup fray. The company was earlier known as KiranaKart and marked the teens' debut as entrepreneurs. When the company didn't take off in what was a fledgling Q Commerce market at the time, both teens enrolled in Stanford University to study computer science. They dropped out, however, to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.

It was the 10-minute delivery that sent their NPS shooting up. "Simply put, customers love a rapid delivery experience," Vohra had said, in a statement. Ever since, their NPS has remained strong at around 85. It has put them in competition with giants like Swiggy, Dunzo, BigBasket and Grofers, all of which have stakes in the quick-commerce market. The Zepto app has over 100,000 downloads on the Play Store.

The $200 million raised from the Series D funding will go in part towards setting up more micro warehouses and dark stores. It is also the culmination of a period of rapid growth - 200 percent every month. The company is also looking into services that will bring coffee, tea and other products from local cafes - it's a niche segment, one that doesn't quite fit in with the food delivery sector.

Right place, right time

If KiranaKart, their debut venture, didn't attain the same resounding success, it was perhaps for arriving before its time. The pandemic transformed the quick commerce landscape. Demand for home delivery of groceries and essentials multiplied during the lockdown. Palicha and Vohra, also confined to their homes, decided the time was right for Zepto. They were right. The idea found instant merit among investors and the company raised $60 million in a round led by Nexus, Lacy Groom, Y Combinator and Glade Brook in November 2021. There's no better time to be in quick commerce in India.

Consulting firm RedSeer estimates that the Indian Q-Commerce market will grow up to 15 times, with a valuation of $5 billion by 2025. It currently stands at $300 million. Unlike e-commerce, which involves the online purchase or sale of a good or service that can take a few days to deliver, quick commerce aims to deliver within 10-30 minutes or ordering. Also called 'on-demand delivery', it tends to focus on the micro to smaller quantities of goods - over the counter medicines, for instance.

How does it work?

Last month, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, made it clear that he is not impressed with 10-minute delivery services. It's not the first time the matter has been debated on Twitter - in March 2022, Zomato rolled out a 10-minute express food delivery plan. It had Twitterati fuming and CEO Deepinder Goyal hurried to the platform to tweet his clarifications. While food delivery and groceries aren't comparable, the stance seemed to be inclined towards worrying for the road safety of the delivery executives.

However, when Mahindra rehashed the old debate, Aditya Palicha arrived to defend the 10-minute delivery move. Ten-minute delivery is about short distances, not high speeds, he tweeted to Mahindra. "The average distance of a Zepto deliver is 1.8 km. To travel 1.8 im in 10 minutes, one has to drive at <15kmph."

Hi Mr. Mahindra,

10-min delivery is about short distances, not fast speeds :)

The avg distance of a Zepto delivery is 1.8 km. To travel 1.8 km in 10 minutes, one has to drive at <15 kmph.

That’s why Zepto has 3.1x lower accidents on avg compared to a regular biker on the road.

— Aadit Palicha (@aadit_palicha) April 17, 2022

The quick delivery is facilitated by the fact that the sellers are moving away from traditional warehouses located on the outskirts to micro-warehouses that are all over the city. The catch? Stocks are limited and usually restricted to around 2000 high-demand items.

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Follow Aadit Palicha on Linkedin and Instagram
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Wizards of maths: NRI prodigies Raghav & Madhav’s fab formula – brilliance, philanthropy & extracurriculars

(April 22, 2022) Number whizzes, Dubai-based brothers Raghav and Madhav have turned numerals into more than just that, with their social endeavours. For them, it’s evident that charity begins with numbers! The brothers with roots in Chennai are not only maths wizards but dedicated philanthropists who have raised close to 40,000 dirhams as part of their philanthropic initiatives for Al Jalila Foundation (an initiative of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai) and Smile Train, Dubai (world's largest charity for children with cleft). They have other charity initiatives too. At just 12 (Raghav) and nine (Madhav), the genius prodigies also have a cartload of awards and accolades. “Not using the abilities that we have is useless. We have learned that we should use our talent for a noble cause,” says the older sibling Raghav in an interview with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_15387" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Raghav and Madhav, maths wizards[/caption] Since 10, and seven, Raghav and Madhav have been helping special needs students, the have-nots, and the pandemic saw them raise funds to help those affected. "Since we couldn't really meet face-to-face, we met people online to showcase our mental math abilities firsthand and raise funds," says Madhav.

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Since 10, and seven, Raghav and Madhav have been helping special needs students, the have-nots, and the pandemic saw them raise funds to help those affected. "Since we couldn't really meet face-to-face, we met people online to showcase our mental math abilities firsthand and raise funds," says Madhav.

A big brother who showed the path

Raghav, who was felicitated by Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO, Al Jalila Foundation for his humanitarian efforts, has been conferred the coveted Hamdam Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for distinguished student 2020-2021. The then consulate-general of India to Dubai awarded him the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Award, 2020. A math wizard and Diana awardee, there is a depth to his talent and abilities. He represented the UAE national team in the IMSO Olympiad (Indonesia), and is among the top 5 in the Junior Mental Calculation World Championship held in Germany. Dubai Cares has awarded Raghav, the Young-Philanthropist Award in 2019.

[caption id="attachment_15395" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Raghav Krishna Seshadri Sumanth[/caption]

Yet, of paramount importance is his dedication towards developing his mathematical acumen. Raghav took up an algebra honours course meant for seniors at the North-Western University at the Centre for Talent Development, US. Unsurprisingly, he passed with a whopping 92 percent, though still in grade six. The consecutive two-time gold medallist in the math Olympiad, UAE brushes off these brilliant accolades, as his interest lies in using his talent to help others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl6pVsFJTVw

Both Raghav and Madhav enrolled in UCMAS (a worldwide skill development programme promoting the universal concept of a mental arithmetic system) at age five. The course laid a solid foundation for their extraordinary mathematics skills. “There is one competition - Flash in UCMAS, wherein numbers flash on screen, and you’re supposed to add them quickly. In that style of competition, I am the flash champion in UAE,” smiles an excited 12-year-old Raghav.

Private coaching from world-renowned experts, both in India and the UK, Raghav even trained himself in advanced mental math abilities. "We would like to do more charity for causes like teaching visually impaired about astronomy," says Raghav.

The little boy genius

Madhav is an ardent fan of his older brother, and loves emulating him. The UAE national level first ranker in the Ignited Mind Labs Mental Math competition in 2021, he is also a national level gold medallist in the Mathematics Olympiad conducted by IOF in 2021-2022 (UAE).

[caption id="attachment_15396" align="aligncenter" width="617"] Madhav Krishna Seshadri Sumanth[/caption]

With three awards in the UCMAS National Abacus Mental Arithmetic Competition 2019 (in visual calculation, flash mental calculation, and listening mental calculation in the junior 4 category), Madhav’s prowess follows closely behind Raghav’s. An international champion at the UCMAS International Abacus competition (Cambodia, 2020), Madhav also learned to spread his wings. The avid cricketer started training at the International Cricket Council Academy in Dubai at five. He won the ICC Academy ADIB Warriors U-7’s coveted One to Watch Award 2019. An exceptional talent as a stylish left-handed batsman, Madhav is determined to take the sport further.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMeqi409VQ

Fundraising through mathematics

The brilliant brothers, Raghav and Madhav set up the YallaGive campaign to raise funds for Al Jalila Foundation’s Ta’alouf (harmony in Arabic) programme which empowers children of determination (special needs kids) by equipping parents and teachers to develop necessary skills to hone potential. The pandemic saw them raise funds (online) by posting videos, and setting up virtual meetings asking mental math questions to potential donors – the better they performed, the greater the donors contributed. Raising 30,000 dirhams for children with Down Syndrome and autism, they facilitated scientific training for 73 teachers across 23 schools in the UAE in 2020.

Chain of Initiatives

Raghav and Madhav's math acumen is spectacular, and that has given them an impetus to use it to help others. Sponsoring the education of an orphan girl child in India, Raghav is also the Youth Ambassador of Water Alliance, and often conducts webinars to propagate handwashing techniques, and water conservation. As youth ambassadors of Smile Train, they bore medical expenses of children suffering from cleft in the MENA region.

Strong roots

“Learning something and developing talent is good. But using that talent for a noble cause is even better, so we figured out that we should do something good with the skills we have,” says Raghav thoughtfully.

[caption id="attachment_15390" align="aligncenter" width="645"] Raghav and Madhav[/caption]

Their father Sumanth Seshadri is head of compliance at Gulf Islamic investments. Their philanthropic urgings were nurtured by a charitable upbringing through generations with their grandfather helming a charitable trust in India as well. While Sumanth encourages and motivates his sons on charity, or specialised courses, and often brainstorms on ideas, their mother, Vedavalli, a Bharatanatyam dancer, guides them in studies, and life.

Shining bright

Not ones to rest on their laurels, Raghav is now keen on taking up astronomy, and wants to become an astronaut or space scientist. “I would also like to be an astronaut because I always like to follow in the footsteps of my brother,” Madhav smiles.

Child prodigies, medals, and 99-100 percent marks is a norm. However, all maths and no play is not what the brothers are about. They hold a brown belt (Kyu 3) in karate, and are set for a black belt test soon. They paint. Are religiously inclined - with the first prize (thrice consecutively) in the Bhagavad Gita chanting. Oh, and the Carnatic music students love reading. “I read many books regularly. Until now, I’ve read almost 100 to 200 books, I’ve won the voracious reader award in school too,” pipes the brilliant Raghav.

[caption id="attachment_15391" align="aligncenter" width="422"] Raghav and Madhav with parents[/caption]

Their interests and lives are a lesson in time management. “With careful planning, we manage time. We schedule plans early, and are persistent on what and when to do things. We put extra effort in whatever we do, with our whole mind in it,” enthuses Raghav as Madhav nods in affirmation. They study in Delhi Private School, Sharjah in class 8 and New Delhi Private School, Sharjah in class 5 respectively. For siblings of such stellar acumen and talent, their parents are their inspiration, even as world looks on in awe at their brilliant and well-rounded achievements.

Follow Raghav and Madhav on Instagram

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Swing Queen Renuka Singh Thakur named ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year

(February 26, 2023) When prime minister Narendra Modi was congratulating the Indian women’s cricket team after they won the Asia Cup 2022, he had special words of praise for the Himachal girl Renuka Singh Thakur. “Renuka’s face might ooze the peacefulness of Shimla, and the innocent smile of the mountains but her tough bowling on the field defeats the confidence of even the seasoned batters,” he said in his speech. Popularly known as the Swing Queen of Indian cricket, Renuka was also commended by the PM for being an inspiration for girls in the remotest corners of India. [embed]https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1618209611051569154?s=20[/embed] Renuka was named the Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2022 by ICC. The decision came after ICC conducted a poll for the specialist panel of media representatives, the ICC Voting Academy, and cricket lovers around the world. India’s newest cricket star, who is known for her extraordinary swings while bowling, left behind Australia’s Darcie Brown, England's Alice Capsey and her Indian colleague Yastika Bhatia garnering maximum votes. ICC announced the names of the winners last month. Global voting categories were based on overall performances and achievements of the nominated cricket stars throughout the calendar year. From village grounds to international cricket

3376527 BCX0"> defeats the confidence of even the seasoned batters,” he said in his speech. Popularly known as the Swing Queen of Indian cricket, Renuka was also commended by the PM for being an inspiration for girls in the remotest corners of India.

[embed]https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1618209611051569154?s=20[/embed]

Renuka was named the Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2022 by ICC. The decision came after ICC conducted a poll for the specialist panel of media representatives, the ICC Voting Academy, and cricket lovers around the world.

India’s newest cricket star, who is known for her extraordinary swings while bowling, left behind Australia’s Darcie Brown, England's Alice Capsey and her Indian colleague Yastika Bhatia garnering maximum votes. ICC announced the names of the winners last month. Global voting categories were based on overall performances and achievements of the nominated cricket stars throughout the calendar year.

From village grounds to international cricket

Hailing from Parsa village in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, Renuka was raised by her mother. She had lost her father at the tender age of three. He wanted both his children to take up sports and it was to fulfil her father’s dream that the youngster took up cricket, finding it the most interesting game.

While Renuka’s mother was busy working as a class IV employee in the Himachal Pradesh’s irrigation and public health department, Renuka would play cricket with her elder brother Vinod (who is named after cricketer Vinod Kambli) and his friends at the village grounds. Sometimes Renuka would even travel with them to other villages to play her favourite game.

[caption id="attachment_27895" align="aligncenter" width="483"] Renuka Singh Thakur[/caption]

In 2009, Renuka enrolled herself in Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association’s Women’s Residential Academy in Dharamshala, following the advice of her uncle who is a physical education teacher in a government college. Later, she was selected for the Australia tour of the national women’s cricket team, followed by tours in Bangladesh and Thailand. She performed exceptionally in all the tournaments.

Turning heads

In 2019-20, the cricket star won hearts by taking a total of 23 wickets in different tournaments, establishing herself as leading wicket-taker of the Indian women’s cricket team. The following year, she won the BCCI Senior Women’s One Day Trophy for taking nine wickets against Australia.

“All I do is step on the field with confidence and bank on the energy of the fielders to throw the balls in most challenging manner, enjoying the process all along,” she said. Renuka also remarked, in the conversation with Jemima Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma, “I love the spectators during the match. When I am on field, looking at them fills me up with confidence.”

Renuka was selected to represent India in the International T20 Cricket Series in 2021. The Global Indian went on to represent India in Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2022 and played a pivotal role in helping her team lift the trophy, leaving behind 15 teams from across the world. Renuka also became the first Indian pacer to take five wickets in T20 World Cup.

Mesmerised by her power-packed performances, cricket lovers and experts voted her as the Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year title from amongst an impressive list of high performing international cricketers nominated by the ICC.

With the coveted title that Renuka has earned right at the beginning of 2023, and her recent selection for ₹ 1.5 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore, the year has already started on a promising note for the Swing Queen.

Follow Renuka Singh Thakur on Instagram

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Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani: The ethical hacker representing India in international championships

(March 20, 2024) For someone who has been interested in cybersecurity since a young age, representing India at international championships in new-age Information Technology platforms was a surreal experience. The past few months have been very fruitful for Ahmedabad's Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani. At the High Technology Championship held in Veliky Novgorod, Russia, in September 2023, he secured a silver medal in Neural Networks. The same year in November, he clinched a bronze at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia, for IT Software Solution. The year 2024 also began on a high note as he emerged as a finalist at the Sports/Competitive Programming competition held in Kazan, Russia, in February. From a young age, Kirtikumar has excelled in cybersecurity. At just 15 years old in 2018, he received the title of 'youngest cyber security researcher' from World Records India for securing over 100 websites by identifying and reporting vulnerabilities in their web applications. That same year, his name was inscribed in the India Book of Achievers. [caption id="attachment_36726" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption] The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had

oads/2024/03/GI-6loQW4AACJVU-1024x683.jpeg" alt="Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani is an ethical hacker who represents India in new-age Information Technology international competitions." width="657" height="439" /> Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani[/caption]

The 21-year-old wears multiple hats as an ethical hacker, cybersecurity expert, and programming enthusiast, winning several awards. He has also dabbled in professional eSports, and had achieved a Top 32 rank at the World Cyber Games held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2019.

As an ethical hacker and Penetration Tester (PenTester), Kirtikumar has earned recognition and monetary rewards from major tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle for identifying vulnerabilities in their web applications.

Kirtikumar's interest extends to astrological predictions as well. “Anyone can check my predictions in the Astro World channel where I predicted actual dates or details about market crashes, earthquakes, election results, sporting tournaments’ results, and war which ultimately came true,” he tells Global Indian.

In the world of cybersecurity since the age of eight

At the age of eight, Kirtikumar's enthusiasm for computers became apparent as he immersed himself in activities like programming and gaming. One day, while playing Subway Surfers, he became intrigued by his cousin's method of obtaining unlimited coins in the game. This curiosity prompted him to indulge in extensive research, which led him to discover how to hack the game. By the time he turned 13, Kirtikumar had gained a thorough understanding of hacking tools such as remote access trojans (RATs). Fuelled by his curiosity in the subject, Kirtikumar kept on polishing his skills in the world of ethical hacking.

[caption id="attachment_36724" align="aligncenter" width="713"] Kirtikumar at the International High Technologies Championship 2023 at Veliky Novgorod, Russia[/caption]

Creating milestones

In 2018, at the age of 15, he won the Penetration Tester of the Year award at the United Kingdom based Cyber Security Awards ceremony with several well-known personalities in the field of cyber security as the judges. Kirtikumar also got recognised by the World Book of Records, and earned an entry into the Book of Achievers that year.

The following year Kirti became the youngest to win the Tech Savvy Award which led his interest in the field of science and technology even more, making him passionate in his endeavour to find solutions to vulnerabilities in web applications. “In 2022, I was the top security researcher on the Google Play Security Reward program,” he mentions.

Hacking for good

As Kirtikumar honed his ethical hacking skills further, he noticed that tech giants were publicly recognising cybersecurity enthusiasts for safeguarding their infrastructure by uncovering vulnerabilities in their web applications.

"Inspired by that I decided to leverage my hacking skills for the greater good, securing the internet for users by identifying vulnerabilities in the web applications of major tech companies,” he says. “When I shared the security threats with the respective companies, I was rewarded financially. Some organisations even sent me gift packs with exclusive merchandise printed with their logo and the words ‘security researcher’, as a token of appreciation,” he explains.

[caption id="attachment_36729" align="aligncenter" width="731"] Kirtikumar with Tennessee based cyber security evangelist, Dameon Welch[/caption]

Advancing from web security to browser security and Kernel security

After spending a few years in the field of web security, Kirtikumar yearned to learn something more exciting. “I decided to shift my focus to browser security taking inspiration from international security researchers, Abdulrahman Al-Qabandi and Eric Lawrence.”

After spending a couple of years mastering browser security skills, he again yearned to learn something new, and shifted his focus to Kernel security (errors of which lead to fatal issues on the PC). “I got interested in this subject by following Germany based senior security consultant, Patrick Walker,” says Kirtikumar.

With his dedication to learn advanced skills, expertise and accomplishments at such a young age, Kirtikumar has earned connections with international experts, and opportunities to participate in global forums on cybersecurity. Talking about Kernel Security, he remarks, “It is the most challenging realm of exploration for me because I love to try something tough which can push my boundaries to think out of the box.”

Also Read: Watch out for the cyber criminals: 22-year-old cyber expert Vaibhav Jha upskills natives and foreigners

Endeavours in eSports

Kirtikumar has been into competitive eSports but decided to leave it in 2020. In 2019, he participated in the regional finals of the World Cyber Games in Seoul, South Korea, securing the seventh-place finish in the Asia Pacific Region, cementing his position among the top 32 players. He also competed in the Clash Royale League (CRL 2019) and ranked among the top players worldwide in weekly Grand Challenge finishers.

[caption id="attachment_36727" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]

“I left competitive gaming in 2020 after winning my last Paytm First Games. It wasn't helping me think outside the box; I was simply addicted to the game,” he explains. “Fortunately, I realised this at the right moment and began to dedicate more time to browser and kernel security research. I am pleased to have qualified for national rounds and to represent India internationally in these fields,” he remarks.

Academic brilliance

A former student of St. Stephen and Navkar Public School in Ahmedabad, Kirtikumar excelled in science and maths, earning a top 100 ranking in the International Math Olympiads (IMO) and National Science Olympiads (NSO) during his time in school. He also achieved a spot in the top 400 in the National Cyber Olympiads (NCO), as a school student.

Currently, the cybersecurity enthusiast is pursuing Chartered Accountancy and Company Secretaryship while working as an independent security researcher. “I aim to explore the intersection of finance and technology, merging my passion for both to create innovative solutions beneficial for traders,” he says.

[caption id="attachment_36728" align="aligncenter" width="527"] Kirtikumar Anandrao Ramchandani at The Professional Championship held in St. Petersburg, Russia[/caption]

When the multitasker finds some time out of his hectic worlds of CA, CS, security research and international competitions, he loves to draw, write, cook, follow cricket, and solve LR/RC/CR on GMAT forums. Ever since he was a teen, he has been giving talks to aspiring security researchers and loves participating in such sessions to share his knowledge.

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