World champ at 7; ‘nervous’ while meeting PM Modi: How Pragnika became chess prodigy

Seven-year-old Pragnika Vaka Lakshmi, Under-7 Girls champion at the FIDE World Schools Chess Championship 2025, met PM Narendra Modi after winning gold for India on Friday. From learning chess during COVID to rapid success, she shows rare courage and discipline. Backed by family sacrifices, scholarships, and offline coaching, she balances school, training, and dreams of becoming the best chess player worldwide.