At the Chess Olympiad 2024 felicitation ceremony, where India’s openand women’s teams were honoured for their double–gold triumph, the atmosphere was filled with pride and admiration for the champions. Yet, one moment stood out amid the celebrations, a tender, unscripted scene that highlighted the personal battles behind the triumphs. Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli, a key figure in the women’s team, wasn’t just managing the pressures of international competition. She was also balancing a far more personal role: that of a mother.
Harika was seated on the dais and her teammate Divya Deshmukh was sharing her experience of the Olympiad when her two-year-old daughter, Hanvika, called out to her from the audience. It was one of those unpredictable moments every parent knows all too well. She gestured to her grandmother to distract Hanvika, but when that didn’t work, Harika simply did what came naturally — she got up, walked into the audience, and scooped her daughter into her arms, carrying her through the packed hall, all while ensuring the event continued without interruption.
Later, when I caught up with her, right before we started the interview,Harika requested me to wait five minutes so she could go check on her daughter and come back. Keeping her promise, the grandmaster showed up to complete the interview with her daughter in arms. Harika’s composure revealed the true story behind her golden success, a story of balancing dreams, motherhood, and judgement.
“Motherhood is hard, it’s very hard,” she told RevSportz, her voice carrying the weight of experience. “Every mom can relate to it. No matter what profession you’re in, or even without a profession, it’s tough. I’m lucky to have a strong support system, thanks to my family, and because of them, I’m able to keep doing what I love. I want to show my daughter, and moms everywhere, that you can do it all.”
It became clear that Harika’s Olympic victory wasn’t just for herself or her country; it was for her daughter, too. “I was playing chess when my daughter was in my tummy,” she had shared earlier when she was on the stage. “Now, to win gold in front of her… it’s a special moment.”
But it hasn’t always been easy. Harika opened up about the tough choices she’s had to make, the criticism that came her way when she left her daughter behind at just four months old to continue her career.
“I’ve learnt in my experience that you should never judge a mom,” she said. “When I left my daughter when she was just 4 months old, there was a reason for it.
“There were people who were surprised, some who passed judgements. But sometimes, you have to go with your instincts, that what you’re doing is best for your child. I will be so glad if she (her daughter) can be proud of me when she grows up.”
Harika’s words echoed the struggles many working mothers face. Juggling two worlds, home and career, isn’t about perfection. It’s about finding a way to make them coexist, however messy or chaotic it may seem. Her journey as both a mother and a grandmaster is a reminder that behind every success story is a human one, filled with choices, sacrifices, and love.
In the middle of all the celebration and glory, Harika’s candour was perhaps the most inspiring part of the evening. It wasn’t just her titles or her victories that struck a chord, but her strength in showing that women can pursue their dreams, care for their families, and still come out victorious, on their own terms.