New Delhi, April 23 -- 64 Squares, a joint initiative of Hyderabad-based Pravaha Foundation and Chess Startup, MGD1, is working to grow the stature of women's chess in India. The 2025 cohort features a fellowship grant worth Rs1 crore that will support five exceptional chess players, including IM Vantika Agrawal, WFM Shubhi Gupta, WFM Charvi Anilkumar, as well as emerging talents WIM Sarayu Velpula and WIM Sahithi Varshini, according to the MGD1 press release.

The initiative aims to identify and support promising women chess players in India by covering their training, tournament participation, and exposure expenses for a year. Among the early beneficiaries was Arjuna Awardee Vantika Agrawal, who was selected for support in 2023. Since t...