Rohini Khadilkar, the woman with wings: Who is she? 

Rohini Khadilkar: All you need to know about this champion!


At the age of 13 children are usually busy studying and playing. But there are so many people who have done amazing things at an early age. In India, we also have many exemplary people who have made this country proud. Today, the person we are talking is none other than Rohini Khadilkar.  At the age of 13, she became National Women champion. She was the first one to hold that championship for three consecutive years. On five occasions she held this title.

Breaking the stereotype, she also participated in the Indian Men’s Championship in 1976. Her participation in the men’s tournament caused much outcry. The matter even went to the Bombay High Court. However, the incident made the World Chess Federation president, Max Euwe, to pass a rule that Women can not be barred from National and International championships.

She  has beaten  three state champions, Mehta of Gujarat, Abdul, Jabbar of Maharashtra and A. K. Ghosh of West Bengal – in the competition. Currently, inactive in the sport, her rating stands at 2215.

In an interview with a leading daily, she had told that she was being discouraged when she started going well in Men’s Championship. She said, “They would smoke in front of my face”. All this could not stop her from achieving what she wanted to do in life.

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1981

Khalidkar became the Asian Women’s Chess Championship. The Championship was held in Hyderabad. She remained unbeaten in that championship scoring 11.5 out of possible 12 points, which also entitled her International Woman Master (IWM). The same year she became International Chess Master.

Showing her determination and zeal for the game Khadilkar in November 1983 again won the Asian Women’s title, this time the competition was held in Malaysia.

1977

Rohini won the Chhatrapati Award for her outstanding performance in chess. She also has been awarded by India’s highest honor in sports, The Arjuna award. Rohini has got the title of Maharashtra Kanya for her chess feats

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1993

Rohini announced retirement from chess. She had to break more glass ceilings and enrolled as a student at the Printing technology Institute. Now, she is the editor of Navakaal and editor of Sandhyakal two Marathi leading newspapers.

Rohini was the youngest among two sisters. Khadilkar sisters—Jayshree, Vasanti and Rohini— from Mumbai, Maharashtra. The three sisters had made their dominance.

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