Divi recently became the Under-12 Girls World Cup Champion!
Both Prabha and I, Bijesh (Parents of Divi and Devnath), began our careers in the private IT sector, and a significant part of our professional lives was dedicated to clearing family debts from both sides. After our marriage, one of Prabha’s biggest dreams was to own a home of our own, having experienced the challenges of living without one. To fulfil this dream, we took a home loan of ₹45 lakh from the State Bank of India (SBI) with a repayment tenure of 25 years. Over the past 15 years, we have consistently repaid the loan, yet the outstanding principal remains ₹25 lakh.
The Start of a New Journey and Changes in Family Life
Devnath and Divi Bijesh started a chess journey in late 2021, and we started participating in tournaments in mid-2022.
As Divi began achieving remarkable success at both national and international levels, we realised that nurturing her talent and helping her reach her full potential would require dedicated, full-time support from a parent.
Three rough decisions
I made the difficult decision to resign from my job so that I could accompany her to tournaments and provide the guidance, encouragement, and support she needed throughout this demanding journey.
This decision received mixed reactions. Many chess enthusiasts appreciated and wholeheartedly supported my commitment to Divi’s dreams and aspirations. However, friends who were closely aware of our financial circumstances expressed concerns and discouraged me from taking such a significant career break.
The decision brought significant financial challenges for our family. Understanding our family’s financial circumstances, Devnath also made the difficult decision to discontinue the limited chess training he had been receiving and transition to self-training. This was yet another sacrifice made by a child who had his own dreams and potential. As parents, it has been a source of deep personal pain for us to see Devnath make such compromises at a crucial stage of his development. Despite this, he demonstrated remarkable determination and progressed to a rating of over 2000 within a relatively short period. It remains a personal regret that our financial constraints prevented us from providing him with the level of training and guidance he might otherwise have received.
To keep our children’s dreams alive and secure their future, Prabha made the difficult decision to accept an away-home onsite job with her parent company. Despite this step, managing our financial commitments continued to be a significant challenge. Alongside our home loan repayments and five KSFE loans, we had to meet kids' education expenses and bear the ever-increasing costs of participating in national and international chess tournaments.
Beyond the financial challenges, the emotional strain on our family was becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Our children had to cope with the absence of their mother’s daily love, care, and presence, while our family remained physically separated across different places. The uncertainty surrounding our long-term financial security and our ability to sustain the children’s dreams added to the anxiety and emotional pressure.
A Journey of Perseverance, Unanswered Appeals, and Unwavering Hope
Throughout this journey, we persistently approached government authorities, institutions, and organisations, hoping to secure sponsorships and financial assistance to support Divi’s chess aspirations. We knocked on every door we could find, reaching out to anyone we believed might be able to help us sustain her journey.
One of the greatest misconceptions we encountered was the assumption that both parents (After I quit my job also) working in the IT sector automatically meant that our family was financially well-off. This perception often overshadowed our actual financial circumstances and the significant commitments we were already struggling to manage. Unfortunately, many of our requests were not considered in the context of our genuine financial challenges. We also approached various departments and authorities of the Kerala Government, making repeated efforts over nearly two and a half years. We visited multiple offices, submitted requests, and continued following up in the hope that someone would recognise our situation and extend a helping hand. Despite our persistent efforts, we were unable to secure meaningful assistance or recognition from the government during this period.
One of the most emotionally challenging aspects of this journey was answering Divi’s innocent question after each achievement:
“Pappa, now we will get a sponsor, right?”
Every time she asked, I gave her the same answer: “Yes, the sponsor will come. Keep working hard and try to win another medal.”
Those words became my way of protecting her hope, even when I was uncertain about what the future held. As a parent, it was painful to see my child repeatedly achieve remarkable milestones while still having to worry about whether we could afford the next tournament. Yet, we refused to give up hope. We continued moving forward, believing that one day her achievements would open the doors that had remained closed for so long.
There were several moments when we seriously considered discontinuing our chess journey because the financial and emotional burdens had become overwhelming. However, the encouragement and support of our well-wishers repeatedly prevented us from making that painful decision. Their belief in Divi’s potential gave us the strength to continue when our own confidence was tested.
I had several serious discussions with Sreejith G. S. Sir, Divi’s long-standing coach and mentor, about whether we could afford to continue. He understood our circumstances and stood by us with extraordinary compassion. He accommodated delayed payments, made compromises in his coaching fees, and continued charging us the same fees over several years, despite the growing demands and financial pressures of our journey. His support went far beyond coaching; he helped sustain our belief that Divi’s dreams were still worth pursuing.
A Moment of Recognition, Pride, and Partially Fulfilled Hope
Finally, the moment we had been hoping and praying for arrived. Divi achieved her 25th medal representing India and secured her third world title by winning the World Cup in the Under-12 Girls category. It was a historic milestone in her chess journey and an unforgettable moment for our entire family.
What made the achievement even more extraordinary was the call I received from the Honourable Kerala Sports Minister within just 30 minutes of Divi winning the title. After years of approaching authorities, seeking sponsorships, and struggling to secure financial support, receiving that call was almost unbelievable. For a family that had spent years knocking on doors and holding on to hope, it was an immensely emotional moment.
Subsequently, the Kerala Government announced a cash award of ₹20 lakh for Divi Bijesh in recognition of her historic achievement. The announcement brought us immense happiness and a profound sense of appreciation. Beyond the financial assistance, it was the recognition itself that touched us deeply.
The joy reached another level when Divi was publicly honoured by the Kerala Government before thousands of people at Sports Night Keralam – Celebrating the Champions of Keralam, held at Nishagandhi, Thiruvananthapuram. The event, organised by the Sports Department of Kerala, celebrated the state's sporting excellence alongside entertainment and the presentation of the 2026 G. V. Raja Sports Awards.
Seeing Divi being appreciated on such a prestigious platform, among distinguished personalities and in front of a huge audience, was an incredibly proud and emotional experience for us as parents. The recognition meant far more than words could express.
For us, this moment was about much more than winning. It was the feeling that, after years of struggle, the Government had finally heard us, recognised Divi’s achievements, and acknowledged the journey behind them.
We remain deeply grateful to the Kerala Government and the Honourable Sports Minister for this recognition.
A Heartfelt Note of Gratitude
We are deeply grateful to everyone who stood by us during our most challenging times and helped us continue this remarkable chess journey. Every word of encouragement, every gesture of support, and every opportunity extended to Divi has played a meaningful role in helping her pursue her dreams despite the many challenges our family has faced.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to:
Sreejith G. S. Sir – Masters Chess Academy: For his guidance, encouragement, and valuable support in Divi’s chess journey.
Divi with Sreejith G.S. Sir.WGM Aarthie Ramaswamy Ma’am and Chola Chess: For organising free training camps and extending generous support, helping young chess players access valuable learning opportunities.
Divi with Vaishali Rameshbabu at the Chola Chess event.Chess Base India, Quant Box, and Sagar Shah Sir: For their contribution to Indian chess, their encouragement of emerging talent, and their role in bringing greater visibility to players and providing financial assistance.
AICF: For their contribution, which has been valuable in helping her pursue her aspirations and represent India on the international stage
Our countless well-wishers, class groups, friends, and supporters: To everyone who encouraged us, offered help, shared our struggles, and continued to believe in Divi, even when our circumstances were difficult, we extend our heartfelt thanks. Your kindness has meant more to us than words can express.
The Honourable Kerala Sports Minister, Shri Adv. O. J. Janeesh Sir, and the Honourable Kerala Chief Minister Shri V. D. Satheesan Sir: For their support, encouragement, and recognition of Divi’s achievements through the generous cash awards and the way they appreciated her.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in Divi, standing with our family, and helping us keep her dreams alive. We will always cherish your kindness and remember the role you have played in our journey.
Seeking Long-Term Sponsorship to Keep Divi’s Dreams Alive
Despite Divi’s remarkable achievements on the national and international stages, sustaining her chess journey continues to require significant financial support. We are seeking long-term sponsors and committed partners who can help her pursue her ambitions, represent India at prestigious international tournaments, and reach even greater heights in the world of chess. Beyond the financial challenges, our family has also made significant personal sacrifices to support Divi’s dreams. Her mother, Prabha, has taken up an overseas work opportunity to strengthen our family’s financial stability, resulting in prolonged periods of separation.
We believe Divi’s achievements reflect not only her talent and determination but also the potential of a young Indian athlete who deserves the opportunity to flourish with the right support.
We warmly invite corporates, institutions, foundations, and individuals who believe in nurturing young sporting talent to partner with Divi on a long-term basis. Their support would help cover coaching, tournament participation, international travel, and other essential expenses associated with her continued development.
Our dream is not merely to help Divi win more titles; it is to allow her to fulfil her potential without financial hardship coming in the way of her aspirations, while bringing our family closer together.
With the right partners standing beside her, we believe Divi can continue to make India proud, inspire other young chess players, and demonstrate what determination, opportunity, and sustained support can achieve.
