At the 2021 Summer Deaflympics (held in 2022 in Brazil), she made history by taking three gold medals in women’s singles, mixed doubles, and team event.

• In 2022, she was the first Indian woman Deaflympian to receive an Arjuna Award.

History of the Deaflympics:
The Deaflympics are an international multi-sport event, specifically a competition for athletes that are deaf or are hard of hearing. The Deaflympics are conducted by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) and the Deaflympics are organized under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) patronage.

First Deaflympics: 1924 in Paris, France, formerly known as the International Silent Games.

• Frequency: Once every four years, like the Olympics.

• Eligibility: Athletes must possess a hearing loss in their better ear of at least 55 dB.

• Significance: This event creates a platform for deaf athletes to compete at the highest level internationally and champion deaf sports, equality, and inclusivity in sports.

What is the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD):
The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) is the international governing body that organizes and oversees international sport competitions for deaf athletes, including the Deaflympics.

History and Purpose:
• Founding Date: 1924
• Founder: Eugène Rubens-Alcais, a French deaf sports advocate, organized the first international competition for deaf athletes in Paris.
• Purpose: To provide deaf athletes opportunities to compete at the international level and promote equality, inclusion, and awareness of deaf sports all over the world.

Structure:
• All national federations of sports for the deaf around the world make up the ICSD.
• Membership: The ICSD consists of more than 100 countries; each represented by its National Deaf Sports Federation.
• The ICSD also works closely with international federations and sports organizations like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to seek recognition of deaf sports and free of standards of the sport which also applies to deaf sports.

• Indian-origin astronomer Professor Srinivas R Kulkarni will be honored with the prestigious Shaw Prize by America.
• Professor Kulkarni has discovered millisecond pulsars, gamma ray bursts, supernovae and other celestial bodies. He will be awarded the Shaw Prize in Astronomy for these unprecedented discoveries. Srinivas R Kulkarni is Professor in the Department of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology.

These scientists will receive Shaw Award:

• Apart from Professor Kulkarni, American scientists Swee Le Thein and Stuart Orkin will be awarded the Shaw Prize in the fields of biology and medicine and scientist Peter Sarnak in mathematical sciences.

Unprecedented discovery by Professor Kulkarni:

• The Shaw Prize Foundation said, ‘Professor Kulkarni has made brilliant discoveries in astronomy. His understanding of the sky has brought a new revolution in the field of astronomy. The Palomar Transient Factory was conceptualized and built under the leadership of Professor Kulkarni and his successor Zwicky.
• The Palomar Transient Factory was an astronomical survey.
• Professor Kulkarni did his MS from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in 1978. After this he did his PhD from the University of California in 1983. Professor Kulkarni was also the Director of Caltech Law School from 2006 to 2018.

Gukesh held fellow title contender Hikaru Nakamura to a draw with black pieces in Round 14 to ensure his title win and become the second Indian to qualify for a World Championship final in the classical format, after Viswanathan Anand.

He has now qualified for the World Championship final, where he is slated to face China’s Ding Liren, making him the first teenager to reach the summit clash of chess’ biggest prize.

Introduction

• Vaishali Rameshbabu, an Indian chess prodigy and sister of Pragnananda, has reached a significant milestone in her career by securing the esteemed Grandmaster title. Her accomplishment, marked by surpassing 2,500 FIDE ranking points at the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain, positions her among a select few in the chess world.

Significance of the Achievement

• Joining an elite league comprising luminaries like Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali becomes only the third Indian woman player to claim the revered Grandmaster title. This achievement not only reflects her individual prowess but also contributes to elevating India’s prominence in the global chess circuit.

Understanding the Grandmaster Title

• The Grandmaster title, conferred by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), stands as the ultimate accolade in the realm of chess. It signifies not just exceptional skill but also a proven track record of success in intensely competitive arenas, cementing one’s status among the world’s finest chess players.

Insight into Recognized Chess Titles

• Apart from the prestigious Grandmaster title, FIDE bestows seven other titles, encompassing distinctions like International Master (IM), FIDE Master (FM), and various titles specifically designed for women players. These titles, including the Grandmaster title, are granted for life, subject to maintaining integrity and abiding by FIDE regulations.

Historical and Qualifying Aspects of the Grandmaster Title

• The term ‘grandmaster’ traces its roots back nearly a century and was formally established by FIDE in 1950. The initial cohort of Grandmasters in 1950 included illustrious names such as Mikhail Botvinnik, the then-world champion. Presently, achieving the Grandmaster title demands meeting specific criteria, including reaching a FIDE Classical rating of 2,500 and securing three Grandmaster norms, each contingent on stringent tournament performance benchmarks.

Vaishali Rameshbabu’s Journey to Grandmaster Glory

• Vaishali’s ascent to the Grandmaster title underscores her remarkable consistency and excellence in international chess competitions. Her success significantly contributes to bolstering India’s reputation as a dominant force in the global chess arena.

Conclusion

• Vaishali Rameshbabu’s attainment of the Grandmaster title not only solidifies her standing as a formidable chess player but also adds another chapter to India’s rich legacy in the world of chess. Her accomplishment serves as an inspiration to aspiring players and further cements India’s position as a powerhouse in the international chess fraternity.