Wheeled Wonder: Teen Chess Champ Checkmates Disability!

Fifteen year old Sharon Rachel Aby  won gold in the  Asian Chess champion for persons with disabilities. The class X Chennai student is already the national champion, which she has won for the second time. Sharon told tellmystory.in “It’s a dream come true. Playing at the international level is really different. The pressure is high”.

Sharon suffers from a rare condition, Spinal Muscular Atrophy. On her wheelchair, she works upto eight hours a day to scale greater heights in Chess. Bubbling with enthusiasm she says “I want to become the first Grandmaster on a wheelchair. Like Chess, I am making one move at a time”. A student of the Spartan School, Sharon says the school management, teachers, students and her classmates are so supportive and helpful to her”.

Five  time world champion Viswanathan  Anand recently shared about Sharon’s talent and called her “extraordinary”. He said  “Sharon overcame significant challenges to make her mark on the global stage. At just 14 years old, she has achieved a feat many only dream of”.  Showing a chess board, Vishy had gifted, Sharon says “Vishy sir is so humble. He is a common idol for all chess players in India”.

Six time national champion Jennitha Anto  is Sharon’s coach and inspiration.  it was Sharon’s mother Elizabeth who introduced her to chess as she was left alone in the class when others left for the playground during games hours. “Sharon is  disciplined and hard working and that’s what has helped her to win international laurels”, Jennitha said.

There are around 250 individuals battling this rare disease across India. The treatment to stop deterioration of their condition costs around 70 lakh a year. Aby Matthew, Sharon’s dad says “Families like ours can’t just afford this”. Elizabeth Aby, her Mom added “This would strengthen their respiratory muscle and prevent frequent hospitalisation. We want the government to reach out to all these families”.