Bhubaneswar : In a historic and proud moment for Odisha, four tribal girl students from Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) have been selected to represent India in the Under-14 Women’s category at the prestigious FIDE ISCF World School Team Chess Championship 2026, scheduled to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 6th to 11th April 2026. This marks a landmark achievement, as for the first time all four selected players in this category are from KISS, bringing immense pride to the state.
This opportunity has been further reinforced by the successful hosting of the FIDE Global Conference on Social and Educational Chess at KIIT earlier this year. In recognition of this initiative and its significant contribution to the promotion of chess at the grassroots level, FIDE has awarded a wildcard entry to the Indian Women’s School Team for participation in the championship.
The selected players—Mohini Naik, Monalisha Bhoi, Shreeya Nayak, and Humeswari Mallik—represent diverse tribal communities of Odisha and stand as shining examples of talent nurtured through inclusive education and structured sports training. Shri Gourahari Mohapatra, Chess Coach of KIIT & KISS, has been appointed as the team coach. At the same time, Ms Rashmita Mohanty, Joint Director (Sports), KIIT University, will serve as the Head of Delegation.
This achievement underscores the effective integration of chess into the academic curriculum at KISS, where it is leveraged as a strategic tool to enhance cognitive development, analytical thinking, and decision-making skills among students. It further reflects the institution’s holistic approach to education, which consistently fosters excellence and enables students to perform at both national and international platforms.
All expenses related to participation, including travel, entry fees, and logistics, are being fully borne by KIIT and KISS, reaffirming their commitment to nurturing and promoting tribal talent.
On this occasion, Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT, KISS, and KIMS, met the players and officials, congratulating them on their achievement and extending his best wishes for their success. The players expressed heartfelt gratitude for his support, encouragement, and for providing world-class infrastructure that enables them to excel in both academics and sports.
This achievement signifies the transformative power of inclusive education and structured support in enabling tribal youth to excel globally.
