Chess: Chandreyi Hazra overcame stress to conquer Woman International Masters

Kolkata, Sep 13: Chandreyi Hazra was a boxer and used to participate in all state level boxing championships. She has also won a medal in the state championships.

Much before she started boxing, Chandreyi had developed a passion for chess. She started practicing the game when she was only four-years-old.

Now, the 16-year-old girl from Rishra in Hoogly district from West Bengal has reached a milestone, only three days back, as she became the fourth Women International Master (WIM) from Bengal after Saheli Dhar Barua, Nisha Mohta, and Mary Ann Gomes.

Chandreyi earned the IM norm after having won gold in classical format and silver medals in rapid and blitz format of the game in the Asian Championship, held in Colombo.

She's elated with the achievement but she more overjoyed with the battle she has overcome this year. She had to fight a stiff battle against severe psychological disease almost throughout last year.

Chandreyi described, "I was plagued by acute stress problem. I was often faltering into the psychological pressure. One of the doctors prescribed me some tablets. But after taking those tablets I turned extremely drowsy. I used to sleep for all through the day. But how could I spend days without playing chess? Naturally, I tried to keep my eyes open and that did more damage to my health."

In the last Chandreyi could not participate in most championships. Even in the tournaments that she participated last year, she had nightmarish performances.

The awful time finally seems to have passed.

"All the credit goes to two persons. One is my psychologist Indrani Dutta and the other person is Atanu Lahiri, the secretary of Bengal Chess Association and a former chess coach. They brought my confidence back and encourage me each and every moment. It's only due to their inspiration and support that I have managed to return to the circuit," she signed off.