Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveSimar Khurana: The youngest video game developer to claim Guinness World Record glory

Simar Khurana: The youngest video game developer to claim Guinness World Record glory

Written by: Amrita Priya

(September 15, 2023) Indian origin Simar Khurana, a six-year-old from Beamsville, Ontario, Canada, has created a Guinness World Record becoming world’s youngest video game developer – an impressive feat she accomplished at the young age of six years and 335 days.

What makes her achievement even more special is her remarkable ability to create a video game that not only provides entertainment but also imparts a message about the importance of adopting healthy eating habits. Her game, aptly named ‘Junk Food vs Healthy Food,’ not only entertains but also educates young players about making nutritious food choices.

The student of Jacobs Beam Public School is not only a coding prodigy but also a versatile child with a passion for maths, art, gymnastics, and dance. Simar finds support in her family and the entire school that was cheering when she made the record. She showcases her expertise on her YouTube channel, ‘Simars World’.

Simar Khurana

Girls are no less than boys

Simar’s father Paras Khurana, an HR professional, told Global Indian, “I have two daughters. Simar is the second one, and when she was born, a few people expressed sympathy and were rueful that I was blessed with another girl. They told me to try for a boy. Simar’s achievements are like a slap on their face.”

Talking about the Guinness Book rules he says, “Guinness recognises two categories for the youngest video game developer – one for males and one for females. Simar qualified for the female category. However, if there would have been an open competition, she would have excelled regardless. Sadly, there still appears to be a bias favouring boys over girls.”

Simar is ‘super excited and grateful to be a world record holder’. While her father shared, “the process was very lengthy and exhaustive. It took almost three months to verify and validate.”

Discovering the talent

Simar began her coding journey just this year when her parents recognised her exceptional aptitude for coding, mathematics and doing things creatively. They decided to enrol her in a coding class.

“Such is her creativity that she can create something great out of simple things, and I realised that with her talent for maths and coding she can be a good video game developer,” said her father.

What started as a single class per week soon escalated to three classes, and eventually, Simar dedicated herself to five coding classes weekly.

Simar’s inspiration for her game promoting healthy food choices stemmed from a visit to her family doctor, who emphasised the significance of maintaining a balanced diet. This conversation with her doctor left a mark on the impressionable mind of the six-year-old, sparking her interest in the consequences of consuming junk food and the importance of making healthier choices.

Driven by her newfound knowledge, Simar embarked on her video game journey to transform the perspective of children her age in a fun manner.

Hiccups along the way

When Simar’s parents began searching for a place to provide her with coding training, they explored several options. However, they encountered a common response: “She’s too young. Most children are just beginning to learn to read and write. Developing a game would be quite challenging.” Many institutions recommended that they introduce her to coding when she is at least eight to 10-year-old.

However, looking at their child’s ability her parents knew that she has an extraordinary potential as at such a young age Simar can also solve mathematics problems meant for grade three kids. After trying at many places they finally found an institute that agreed to enrol her.

That’s when her father started researching the world records in coding and found out that nobody has developed a full-fledged game at a young age. “I told Simar this and she got excited, ‘I want to make a world record,’ she said and began announcing to the whole family that she’s going to make a world record’,” Paras shares.

“Simar is hardworking and she did it pretty well for a six-year-old to go through five classes a week on coding and then spending a couple of hours every day on practising and doing projects,” he remarked.

Simar Khurana

What’s next?

The coder has graduated to the next level of working into animations. She loves Roblox, an online game platform and game creation system developed by Roblox Corporation that allows users to programme games and play games created by other users. Down the line she aims to develop something even better than that.

Motivated by her accomplishments, the youngster is working on a more interactive and engaging game. She has a message for everyone – “Don’t eat junk food!”

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Published on 15, Sep 2023

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Entrepreneur Anshul Gupta is making therapy more accessible for autistic kids

(January 11, 2024) Even though one in every 100 children has autism, the disorder continues to be one of the most ignored medical conditions in the world. As the world grapples with the rise in cases and a severe lack of caregivers, an 18-year-old college student has become a beckon of hope for several autistic kids across the globe. Diana Award-winning Anshul Gupta has emerged as a trailblazing social entrepreneur, co-founding 'AUesome', a visionary social enterprise dedicated to breaking down barriers in autism therapy accessibility. A bachelor's student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Anshul aims to bridge the digital and physical world of at-home therapy for neurodiverse children. "Our mission is to make therapy accessible and affordable," explained the young entrepreneur, adding, "At AUesome we have iterated hundreds of kit designs, which include instructional videos, and apps that simplify the at-home therapy process for parents of children with special needs. We hope to eliminate the physical and financial barriers to receiving therapy." The impact of Anshul's innovative approach is already evident, with the AUesome team successfully designing and distributing 17,500 therapy resources to fulfill 550 kit requests globally. Everything Is AUesome Born and brought up in the lush green

and financial barriers to receiving therapy."

The impact of Anshul's innovative approach is already evident, with the AUesome team successfully designing and distributing 17,500 therapy resources to fulfill 550 kit requests globally.

Everything Is AUesome

Born and brought up in the lush green locality of San Jose, California, Anshul started volunteering at various organisations a quite a young age. An alumnus of Archbishop Mitty High School, the young entrepreneur was also the president of his school's Computer Science Club. It was, however, his personal experience of receiving therapy and working with neurodiverse individuals, that motivated Anshul to establish a company that uses technology to make educational and therapeutic resources more accessible to children with autism.

[caption id="attachment_35175" align="aligncenter" width="556"] Anshul delivering kits to elementary and KIPP schools[/caption]

Talking about the ground reality of autism, the entrepreneur said, "According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are one in 44 children having autism spectrum disorder in the US alone, and about half of those with severe ASD only have access to school-based treatment. Of these kids, about 17 percent have no access to any treatment whatsoever, with these numbers growing drastically. While I and a few of my classmates were working with individuals with special needs, we recognised the inaccessibility, lack of continuation, and low parental involvement for autism therapy services. And that is what became our motivation to establish AUesome."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OodlnvwI3Kg

So, what is it that AUesome does? "We improve upon existing therapeutic constraints by reimagining the therapy process through the utilisation of a therapy kit, augmented by a digital guidance platform and app," shared the entrepreneur, adding, "First, we curate clinically proven therapy tools and activities used by therapists – such as flashcards to train communication skills and clothespin activities for fine motor skills – into a therapy kit, delivered to parents and educators. Next, the kits are paired with an instructional platform, where parents can access guidance resources for each activity to educate themselves on how to conduct therapy with their child. Finally, after three iterations, we developed an accompanying app, which provides cognitive games and instructional videos that accompany the activities in the physical kit and recommends a daily schedule, quizzes, and ideas for customisation.

Road to expansion

The entrepreneur has distinguished his company through a unique pricing strategy. Rather than conforming to market trends, the company determines product prices through a combination of production costs and thorough market research. With costs as low as $10-15, AUesome provides an economical alternative to existing therapy systems, which can often demand upwards of a quarter-million dollars for individuals between birth and age 18.

[caption id="attachment_35176" align="aligncenter" width="552"] Fundraising initiative by AUesome[/caption]

"One of the key parts of our daily work is to receive user feedback. I believe they embrace both positive and negative input to improve our product continuously," shared the Global Indian, adding, "This market is worth $2.01 billion and is projected to grow 7.9 percent in the next couple of years. So, even from a business perspective, there is an emphasis on the importance of seizing opportunities as students and building a network of like-minded individuals who can support and contribute to their projects ensuring the sustainability of such innovative ideas."

Aside from therapy kits, AUesome has also initiated chapters. These chapters provide high school and college students with materials for leadership, networking, advocacy, and spreading awareness about neurodiversity and the necessity for therapy. So far, the organisation has 17 chapters around the globe. "We’re also hoping to expand more across the world through our global outreach initiative,” Anshul shared, "We’re currently working with the Brazilian government, Ukrainian hospitals, people in Canada, India, and beyond, to make a bigger impact beyond just in the United States.”

Follow Anshul Gupta on LinkedIn, GitHub, and his website

Reading Time: 6 mins

Entrepreneur Alishba Imran is engineering a better tomorrow for all

(May 7, 2024) Growing up in Toronto, Alishba Imran carved a space for herself in the world of machine learning, robotics, and blockchain at the very young age of 18. About four years back, Alishba, who had zero knowledge about programming or coding back then, enrolled herself to join her school’s robotics team. While she faced several issues, her focus on learning, earned her the position of the lead programmer on the team. And there has been no turning back since then. A few years after this incident, while on a service trip in India, the entrepreneur learned about the lack of medication in various rural parts of the country. To come up with a solution for this, Alishba taught herself blockchain coding and launched Honestblocks, a platform that tracks counterfeit medicine in the supply chain. Her codebase for the initiative has since been integrated into IBM and used globally. She then co-founded Voltx to accelerate the development of renewable energy storage devices using machine learning and physics models to accelerate the lab to commercialisation process for electrochemical devices. “The biggest thing you can optimise for in life is people. Spend time exploring your interests, what you’re good at, and

2024/05/ALishba_BAIR.jpg" alt="Entrepreneur | Alishba Imran | Global Indian" width="552" height="368" />

“The biggest thing you can optimise for in life is people. Spend time exploring your interests, what you’re good at, and what brings you energy. I think the best things to work on are at the intersection of what you're good at, what you enjoy, and are a way for you to create value for the world," explained the Global Indian, who was recently named among Teen Vogue’s annual 21 Under 21 list of “changemakers, influencers, activists, and artists who have made a substantial impact in both their communities and the world.”

Making a difference

Born in a desi family, Alishba has always been connected to her roots. A brilliant student, the entrepreneur launched an app that uses blockchain to improve supply chain transparency to end counterfeit medication in developing countries when she was just 14. "As a child, I was always very curious and asked a lot of questions about how things work. From appliances around the house to vehicles and computers. At a young age, I found engineering and computer science very interesting because of how it technically challenged me and the vast applications to solve tangible problems," the entrepreneur shared, "In middle school, I learned how to code and was one of the first girls to join the robotics team. That was really my first glimpse into learning about building something real. I was really excited because I would travel to global competitions to meet other people from different countries who were just as interested in technology and engineering as me."

There are a lot of people in the tech industry trying to build the next big social media or note-taking app that will attract millions of dollars from big investors and bolster their company’s value," said the entrepreneur, adding, "But I don’t think the end goal of any company should be based on its monetary value, but rather the value it brings to society."

Addressing several major issues plaguing third-world countries, Alishba believes in using her skills to make a difference in society. "There are many urgent problems that need to be addressed in the world. The greatest challenges of our time — climate change, health care reform and finding ways to create sustainable energy sources. As young students and innovators, I think we have to continually ask ourselves: How do we put our talents and passions toward working on these hard problems?," she said, "Finding the answer to that question, personally, has been a great motivation for me to dive deeper into my interests. And that has been a journey that has taken me around the world."

Creating a better world

When she was just 17, Alishba founded her first company, Voltx, before which she worked with Tesla on research that could speed up the time it takes to manufacture battery cells using machine learning and physics models. "I moved to San Francisco to work full-time with my co-founder to find ways to scale the storage of batteries for solar panels and other applications, like electric vehicles (EV). I raised a pre-seed round of over $1 million for Voltx through venture capital investors. I am still continuing to build on this technology and research as a second-year student at Berkeley," said the entrepreneur, who was also named among the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, in 2023.

[caption id="attachment_37640" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recognised Alishba for her work[/caption]

Speaking about her current projects, the entrepreneur said, "I’m currently co-authoring a textbook for O’Reilly Media, Machine Learning for Robotics with my colleague PG Keerthana Gopalakrishnan. Our aim is to make more accessible the processes of using deep language learning models to build robotics that can change the way we live."

Follow Alishba Imran on her website

Reading Time: 5 mins

Wonder Kid: Kiara Kaur’s journey through books, speeches and world records

(November 29, 2023) “Curiosity is a spark behind every great idea and I'm born with an extra scoop of that,” said five-year-old Kiara Kaur in the opening remark of her TEDx Talk on the theme, ‘Unboxing Curiosity’. In an age where digital technology has deeply integrated into the lives of children, Kiara, a voracious reader is defying the norms. She discovered her love for reading when she was merely two, and since then, has immersed herself in it. “I have read more than 2,000 books until now,” she said adding, “By listening to this you must have assumed that I am a gifted child with an extraordinary talent but let me tell you, I am just like any other kid born in this world.” Owing to her fervent passion for reading, Kiara accomplished remarkable feats by gaining entry into the World Book of Records in London, and also the Asia Book of Records. This achievement involved her reading 36 children’s books consecutively within one hour and 45 minutes back in 2021, when she was just four years old. [caption id="attachment_34326" align="aligncenter" width="897"] Kiara Kaur[/caption] Kiara's dedication has captured significant attention on social media. Her story serves as an inspiration, motivating parents

="Indians in UAE | Kiara Kaur | Global Indian" width="897" height="504" /> Kiara Kaur[/caption]

Kiara's dedication has captured significant attention on social media. Her story serves as an inspiration, motivating parents to instil this valuable habit in their own children. Now at the age of six and based in Dubai, Kiara has turned author too and is a sought-after speaker who has earned a second entry into the World Book of Records in London for becoming the youngest keynote speaker to address the World Expo in Dubai.

The author and the speaker

In 2022 Kiara made history by becoming the youngest keynote speaker at the World Expo in Dubai, earning her a place in the World Book of Records in London. Her impactful speech was titled ‘Small Changes, Big Difference’.

Prior to this achievement, as a first-grader, she had delivered a speech during the International Women’s Week celebrations at the Mexico Pavilion. Her speech centered on the crucial theme of women’s empowerment. Kiara had sought guidance from her grandmother, Commander Dr Rita Bhatra, who served in the Border Security Force for 40 years, while preparing for her talk.

In a significant milestone last year, she became one of the youngest TEDx speaker worldwide by addressing a TEDx event held in Maharashtra on Children’s Day, November 14.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1kV3NQ87FY

The little bundle of talents has also authored her first book, titled ‘Diary of a 5-Year-Old Genius Chatterbox Who Set World Records,’ which chronicles her extraordinary journey in her own words. Her mother, Dr Little Mahendra, a dean at a Dental College, mentioned in an NDTV interview that she simply typed as Kiara shared, and the process of book writing took seven months to complete.

Love for books and joy of conversations

Kiara loves the smell of the books and the ambiance of bookstores. Her fondness particularly gravitates towards storybooks adorned with big, colourful pictures and illustrations - they hold a special place in her heart. For her stepping into a bookstore feels like entering her natural habitat, as if she belongs there; she often refers to bookstores as 'the books’ paradise.'

Kiara derives immense joy from sharing the knowledge she acquires with those around her. Engaging in lively conversations is another aspect she cherishes deeply. In her TEDx talk she mentioned being called various names such as chatterbox, gaby, or a talking machine. Despite occasionally feeling disheartened by these labels, she equates conversing with people to the joy a child experiences when given a popsicle — it's a wonderful feeling she finds difficult to resist.

Change in people’s attitude

Even before being introduced to phonics, Kiara had displayed an extraordinary ability to read two or three-letter words, leaving her mother astonished. Intrigued by her daughter's aptitude, Kiara's mother decided to purchase a book for the toddler. "I began craving reading every moment," Kiara recalled. "I read everywhere, in the car, in the doctor's waiting room, even in the bathroom. Soon, books became an indispensable part of my life, and I realised the incredible power of knowledge."

[caption id="attachment_34327" align="aligncenter" width="862"] Kiara Kaur[/caption]

As Kiara delved deeper into reading, her conversational skills blossomed, allowing her to engage effortlessly with individuals of all ages. Armed with the power of knowledge, she noticed a shift in people's attitudes toward her. Previously, being labelled a chatterbox indicated that her constant talking might have led to boredom during interactions, but now, people found delight in conversing with her. Kiara's depth of knowledge surpassed expectations for her age, surprising those around her.

“I started receiving more love by people from all the age groups, and today I'm blessed with many friends. We share books, stories, toys and many other things. So you see that's the change knowledge can bring,” the Global Indian remarked.

Finding support in her mom

Kiara gives all the credits of the kind of person she has turned out to be to her mom, acknowledging her as the fundamental force behind her achievements. During her TEDx Talk, she emphasised, "The bond I share with my mom is what has propelled me to stand here before you." She expressed gratitude for the time, energy, and guidance her mother provides, enabling her to spread her wings wide. The six-year-old affectionately refers to her mother as her 'vitamin.' “My curiosity would have remained locked in a box, if my mother would have not supported me and nurtured my curiosity with her patience,’ she said.

It was her mother who initially introduced her to the enchanting world of books, a gesture for which Kiara feels eternally grateful.

The power of mothers

Kiara firmly believes that a conducive environment is pivotal for children to thrive and succeed, emphasising that youngsters learn and emulate elders around them.

She highlighted the strength of mothers in shaping the life of their children. Kiara praised her lineage, pointing out how her great-grandmother's guidance helped her grandmother to become a gynaecologist, and her grandmother's influence then shaped her own mother, who now holds the position of dean at a dental college.

[caption id="attachment_34331" align="aligncenter" width="438"] Cover image of Kiara Kau's book[/caption]

Encouraging parents, Kiara stressed the importance of investing time in children during their formative years. "As kids, we require more than just food to grow,” she said stressing on how every child needs the freedom to explore their curiosity, allowing it to flourish so that they spread the knowledge in the world through intelligence and wisdom.

“This can't be done without the support and guidance of elders. Our young minds are like bird wings, the more we open, the higher we fly so please give us your time today and I am sure you will be proud of us tomorrow,” she remarked.

What's your Global Indian story? Write to us at editor.gi@globalindian.com

Reading Time: 5 mins

In Tune with India: German singer CassMae mesmerises PM Modi and Sadhguru with Indian Songs

(March 09, 2024) When Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the German singer-songwriter Cassandra Mae Spittmann and her mother at Palladam in Tamil Nadu last month, the 21-year-old vocalist, who was born blind, performed Achyutam Keshavam and Tamil song Sivamayamaga for him. The video of PM Modi enjoying her songs went viral in no time. Popular as CassMae, the singer, who was on her maiden visit to India, has garnered praise from people across the country for her flawless Indian renditions on social media. This month PM Modi conferred the 'best international creator' award to CassMae at the inaugural National Creators Award ceremony for online content creators. Earlier this year, the vocalist gained widespread attention for her rendition of Ram Ayenge ahead of the Ram Temple's consecration ceremony in Ayodhya in January. [caption id="attachment_36470" align="aligncenter" width="530"] CassMae[/caption] However, this isn't the first time that she has left people awestruck with her renditions. In 2023, CassMae earned recognition and a large following for her fusion and Indian devotional music. So much so that her Tamil songs and devotional Indian tracks caught the attention of netizens, earning her a mention in the PM's radio programme, Mann ki Baat. "What a sweet voice! Through

class="wp-image-36470 " src="https://www.globalindian.com/youth//wp-content/uploads/2024/03/card-1.jpg" alt="Indian Music | CassMae | Global Indian" width="530" height="530" /> CassMae[/caption]

However, this isn't the first time that she has left people awestruck with her renditions. In 2023, CassMae earned recognition and a large following for her fusion and Indian devotional music. So much so that her Tamil songs and devotional Indian tracks caught the attention of netizens, earning her a mention in the PM's radio programme, Mann ki Baat. "What a sweet voice! Through the emotions reflected in every word, we can feel her love for God. If I disclose that this melodious voice belongs to a daughter from Germany, perhaps you will be even more surprised! The name of this daughter is – Cassandra Mae Spittmann," he had remarked on his show.

Exceptional fluency in languages

Known for possessing unique abilities, CassMae has a talent for learning languages, effortlessly picking up Indian songs just through repeated listening. “I can sing in 12 Indian languages but love singing in Sanskrit and South Indian languages the most,” she told PM Modi. Apart from German and English, CassMae is also fluent in French and Spanish.

Moreover, her singing prowess extends beyond Hindi. The German singer also fluently sings in Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Assamese, and Bengali, surprising many with her linguistic and musical prowess. Her deep affection for India is evident even though she visited the country for the very first time this year.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cassandra Mae Spittmann (@cassmaeofficial)

Powerhouse of talents

According to her website, a young CassMae would use her feet for orientation. Later, she switched to playing the African drum after realising she was drumming too hard on the ground. At the age of three, CassMae became fascinated with Chopin, and began improvising on the piano, and eventually started singing her own songs.

She used her own lyrics to build a deep connection with her audience, allowing them to understand her inner feelings. “When she experienced bullying, she wrote her intimate song ‘Bullies’ to cope with her situation and instantly won the national songwriting contest of the Berliner Festspiele in 2015. This appreciation made her stronger,” mentions her website.

Gaining recognition

As word of CassMae’s talent spread, she started getting offers to appear on radio and TV shows in Germany, and even worked with international artists. She participated in shows like ‘Dein Song,’ reaching the finale with her song ‘Going Home.’ CassMae received a scholarship for the Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, in the USA, winning the Songwriter's Showcase with ‘The Way I Am.’

[caption id="attachment_36472" align="aligncenter" width="584"] CassMae during one of her performances[/caption]

Upon her return from the US, she got the opportunity to work on the title song for the ‘Prix Jeunesse International 2018’ – the children’s television’s most engaging and rewarding professional training exercise in Germany involving producers, executives and researchers from all over the world.

ALSO READ: Gaiea Sanskrit: British by birth, Indian by soul

Discovering Indian music in the US

During her time in the US, CassMae had her first tryst with Indian music and was instantly captivated by its beauty. “I felt so struck by it that I began my research as soon as I got back home and then found the treasure of Bollywood songs,” CassMae shared in an interview. “At first I tried to learn some couple of phrases and words in Hindi to actually get the language and pronunciation right because I wanted to sing along to the songs, and yeah I listened to many songs and then I dared to finally sing them on social media, and gained some recognition,” the self-taught learner remarked.

I simply love Indian languages, Indian culture, Indian music, and Indian people.

CassMae

The singer also plays Tabla. She joined the Tabla Ensemble of the Anubhab Academy of Cologne in Germany, and continues to explore oriental sounds and languages and plays at Indian concerts, and yoga retreats in her country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLaNedl5_cQ

Lata Mangeshkar’s songs fascinates her the most and she considers them as a source of learning Indian songs. She can even fluently recite the slokas and mantras. “I listen to bhajans every day and focus a lot on hearing and learning that way,” she remarked.

In the world of music

In 2018, Cassandra formed a project band, winning the Young Talents band contest and opening the Eier mit Speck Festival in Germany. Create Music, a music company in Germany, helped her produce her first Hindi-Pop original. As a singer-songwriter she was also working on contract with Kick The Flame Publishing in Leipzig.

In 2019, CassMae produced her debut album ‘Past Life’ with GOLOW and performed at events like the ‘Tag der Begegnung – Sommerblut Kulturfestival’ in Cologne and the Chalabre Serenade Festival in France.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjvx5sJl358

Two years later, the young singer released her EP, ‘Number 14,’ winning the pop category of the UK’s songwriting contest and reached the semifinals of the International Songwriting Contest.

In 2022, CassMae won the Christmas Special of the TV show ‘Dein Song’ with her original ‘Gib mir Frieden'. The momentum continued into 2023, marked by notable professional collaborations and significant acknowledgments in India, including a mention in Mann Ki Baat. Advocating for an inclusive society, CassMae lent her voice to events like the Jahresempfang of Jürgen Dusel and joined RAMPD in 2023.

The dawn of 2024 brought more opportunities for the talented singer as she embarked on a meaningful journey to India, a country close to her heart, where she met with prominent figures like PM Modi and Sadhguru. Their praise and admiration further accentuated CassMae's growing influence and impact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7A0ZTSoGS8

Follow Cassandra Mae Spittmann on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and her website

Reading Time: 5 mins

2023 recap: Indians shine in the global sporting arena

(December 31, 2023) 2023 was a big year for Indian and Indian-origin sportspeople, from the historic triumph of the dressage team at the Asian Games, to Praggnanandhaa winning the silver medal at the Chess World Cup, each athlete's journey has been marked by with extraordinary dedication, relentless quest for perfection, and deep desire to make their country proud. Their remarkable feats not only brought glory to the nation but also ignited inspiration among aspiring youth, imparting invaluable lessons in sportsmanship. Global Indian turns the spotlight on the young sports stars of 2023. R Pragganandhaa Chess grandmaster Praggnanandhaa's silver medal at the World Cup confirms India's increasing dominance in chess. The 2023 tournament stands out as a pivotal event that notably highlighted the expanding prowess of Indian chess on a global scale. His advancement to the 2024 Candidates tournament sets the stage for a showdown where the victor will challenge China's Ding Liren in the upcoming World Championship. Remarkably, at just 18 years of age, Praggnanandhaa holds the distinction of being the youngest-ever finalist in the history of the Chess World Cup. [caption id="attachment_34948" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Praggnandhaa[/caption] “I started playing playing tournaments when I was very young but there is lots more to

" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Praggnandhaa[/caption]

“I started playing playing tournaments when I was very young but there is lots more to achieve,” he had remarked in an interview with Global Indian.

Anush Agarwalla

Equestrian

Anush is exactly where he should be now — on top of the world. From weekend joyrides on horseback when he was barely three to becoming a passionate and accomplished equestrian years later — Anush Agarwalla has galloped his way to glory. This year, he became the winner of India’s first-ever bronze medal in individual Dressage at the Asian Games 2023. “There is no better feeling than having a good ride. With Etro (his horse), I really felt like we were flying in the arena,” smiled Anush, speaking exclusively to Global Indian. After his historic win. He scored 73.030 to finish third and claim his second medal at the Asian Games.

[caption id="attachment_33359" align="aligncenter" width="518"] Anush Agarwalla.[/caption]

“My next goal is to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. I missed out on the Tokyo Olympics by just one spot so I hope to make it this time,” says Anush, who flew back to Germany immediately to begin training for his next milestone.

Divyakriti Singh

Equestrian

Divyakriti was among the four-member contingent that won India the historic gold at the Asian Games 2023, held at Hangzhou, China recently.“We definitely dreamt of a podium finish but to win the gold medal is surreal, it’s extraordinary and it should be like that,” smiles Divyakriti, in an exclusive with Global Indian.

[caption id="attachment_34949" align="aligncenter" width="511"] Divyakriti Singh[/caption]

The historic win was the end result of hard training for years, perseverance, sacrifices and above all, the indomitable will to shine for India. “All the sacrifices we made are a small price to pay for the things we get to do,” said the 23-year-old, who is on cloud nine post the team’s win. She scored 68.176 in Asian Games.

Sahith Theegala

Golfer

“It doesn’t feel real. It’s probably not going to set in for a while. But man, that was a lot of good golf, and that was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my life.” 2023 has been a strong year for Californian golfer Sahith Theegala, who captured his first PGA Tour victory in September at the Fortinet Championship. He finished 21-under 267 at Silverado Resort’s North Course in in Napa, California, as friends and family cheered him on from the stands.

[caption id="attachment_34950" align="aligncenter" width="503"] Sahith Theegala[/caption]

“Just the support I have is mind blowing. I got to bed at night these last few days and I’m like, I can’t believe how many people are cheering for me and rooting for me,” Sahith told Golf Week USA. “I can definitely hear my dad,” he smiled.

Neeraj Chopra

Javelin Thrower

Rewards and accolades never seem to stop raining down on Neeraj Chopra. He has made India proud with a gold in World Athletics Championships 2023 at Budapest, Hungary. A master at scripting history, the 25-year-old athlete is the first Indian to win a gold in the World Athletics Championships since it started in 1983 – exactly 40 years ago. It’s a historic win for India.

[caption id="attachment_32764" align="aligncenter" width="591"] Neeraj Chopra[/caption]

Apart from winning the World Championships and Asia Games Gold medals, he made it to the nomination list for the World Athlete of the Year 2023.

Rani Rampal

Hockey player

Ace hockey player Rani Rampal who earned the moniker the ‘Queen of Hockey,’ has recently been appointed as U-17 coach to mentor rising stars of the game. “Hockey gave me an identity, people listen to me, talk to me because of hockey. So, I just want to work for it in any capacity. You can can play, mentor young kids, you can teach,” she said accepting the role. This is the second milestone that the 28-year-old achieved in her career in 2023.

[caption id="attachment_29085" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Rani Rampal[/caption]

She had reached a significant milestone earlier this year when Modern Coach Factory (MCF) Stadium in Raebareli got renamed to ‘Rani’s Girls Hockey Turf’. From being a girl who had to plead to enter a hockey academy to becoming the first female player to have a stadium in her name, Rani’s journey is extraordinary.

Shahan Ali Mohsin

Racer

Shahan has become the first Indian to win the FIA Formula 4 car racing championship. The 19-year-old, who represents the Hyderabad Black Birds team, picked up the trophy at Madras International Circuit in Sriperumbudur, a town panchayat some 35 km away from Chennai.

[caption id="attachment_34951" align="aligncenter" width="533"] Shahan Ali Mohsin[/caption]

It’s nothing short of a dream come true for the teenager who has spent a considerable amount of his life on racetracks. When most kids of his age were glued to cartoons on television, Shahan Ali Mohsin would watch motorsport racing. Looking at the fast-speed cars, he knew he wanted to be on the track driving one. It was in 2011 that he first visited Indian Grand Prix, and was determined to make a career in motorsports, and now a few years later has made the entire country proud.

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