15-year-old chess champ checkmates disability

Hyderabad: For 15-year-old K S S R A Praneeth, life is not normal like other kids of his age. He constantly needs support to go about his daily routine. Praneeth was born with a genetic disorder called DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) that weakens the muscles which help the body move. The disorder prevents muscles from […]

Hyderabad: For 15-year-old K S S R A Praneeth, life is not normal like other kids of his age. He constantly needs support to go about his daily routine.

Praneeth was born with a genetic disorder called DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) that weakens the muscles which help the body move. The disorder prevents muscles from making proteins needed for healthy muscles. However, DMD has failed to deter Praneeth from pursuing his passion for chess.

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While battling odds in life, he continues to make the right moves on the 64 squares. A former junior national chess champion for disabled, Praneeth was awarded a special prize for his ‘skills’ in the Brilliant Trophy Open online chess tournament where he finished third in the under-15 age category. “He just cannot stay away from the game. He loves to keep playing,” says his father K Srinivas Rao, who works in an audit firm in the city. “Unfortunately, both my sons (Praneeth and his brother Sourie) suffer from the genetic disorder. But, they are very passionate about chess,” he adds.

Praneeth, who started playing chess when he was nine years old, trains online with coach Amit Singh at Maestro Chess Academy. He was crowned national champion in 2017 at Trichy in Tamil Nadu and was number 1 in the junior category. “After that nationals, no other tournament was held till now. So Praneeth started playing regular tournaments in open categories online. He initially competed in offline tournaments, but it was getting difficult for him to continue. From the time the pandemic broke out, he has been playing only online tournaments,” said Srinivas Rao.

“Praneeth was actually preparing for the International Association of Chess with Physical Disability (IPCA) selections scheduled for April or May. We got an invitation for the tournament scheduled in Israel. But he is now forced to drop the plan to get treated in Kolkata,” said his father.

Praneeth says that chess is what keeps him going and he will continue to try and give his best. “Yes, it is a huge challenge given my condition. But that is not a deterrent,” he says.

Meanwhile, Sarojini Cricket and Fitness Academy felicitated Praneeth and his brother Shourie recently. Dr Ashok (IAS) and G R Kiran (secretary of Sarojini Academy) and former national volleyball felicitated the brothers.

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