Eleven-year-old Oshini Gunawardane is making a name for herself in the world of chess as she adds another achievement to her already colourful accolades at a young age. Her most recent achievement was the U12 Girls’ Championship at the World Youth Championships 2024 held in Egypt last month.
The Sunday Morning Sports sat down for a chat with Oshini and her mother Chandima Rathnayake on her achievements and the challenges faced in her career.
Following are excerpts of the interview:
How do you feel about holding the title of World Champion?
I am really happy. This tournament was more challenging than the other tournaments, but somehow I won.
Despite your young age, you have already become a star at an international level. What is your secret?
I work very hard. I have sacrificed many things I liked in order to excel in chess. In fact, I have been practising really hard for the past three months for this tournament.
Do you find yourself missing school work during international tours?
Yes, I tend to miss a lot of school work due to my tours. There have been times when I have been absent from school for over a month.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming tournaments?
The next Asian Youth Tournament will take place in the UAE and there are two more tournaments coming up in India. However, due to a lack of financial support, I am finding it difficult to participate in the upcoming tournaments.
Speaking on behalf of the young star, her mother Chandima Ratnayake spoke of the struggles she faced to give her daughter the best in the sport and her studies.
How do you feel about your daughter’s achievements?
Her achievement in this tournament was a result of her own effort and the support she received from her coaches. They have been putting a lot of effort into winning this tournament and I’m extremely proud of her.
Oshini was given a scholarship from her school. How else does the school provide support?
In 2021, this tournament took place online and my daughter won the gold medal. During that time, she was offered scholarships by many schools and she chose to attend Wycherley International School. The school has been contributing to some extent for the tournaments.
However, the entire cost of the tournaments in Sri Lanka and other private tournaments, including those in India, have to be funded by ourselves, which has been very expensive. We have been struggling to find the necessary funds.
How do you manage the expenses during tours?
Thus far, we have been able to participate in these tournaments thanks to the support we have been getting from the school and a few close people. In the near future, my daughter will only be able to take part in these tournaments if we get the necessary financial support. As a chess player, you need to participate in tournaments regularly in order to rise up the rankings. If she misses one tournament, it will be a huge setback for her career.
How does Oshini manage school work alongside touring?
A lot of support has been given by the school including all her teachers. Her frequent absences from school due to tournaments causes her to miss a lot of school work. As a result, she needs to attend private classes, but we need a lot of money for that because her school follows the Cambridge syllabus. Private lessons are very expensive.
What kind of training does Oshini receive?
Since 2020, Oshini has been coached by Kavinda Sir. She has been trained to practise for six hours weekly. She is sent to camps and trained continuously when a tournament gets closer. The coach trains and helps the children with a lot of dedication and commitment.
Who supports her during tours?
The school has helped a lot. A lot of support was given to Oshini by the Chess Federation. In addition, there were many others who helped us in the past after her coach spoke to them on behalf of Oshini in order to get the support she needed.
How are you managing the expenses for the upcoming Asian Games?
The total cost for the Asian Games is Rs. 600,000. The school contributes part of the expense, but we need to find the remainder. Until we are able to source the remaining cost, her participation in the Asian Games will be uncertain.
What can Sri Lankan sports supporters do to help Oshini go forward in her field?
She needs the support of someone in order to go forward in chess, as we find it difficult to afford the cost of tournaments. Her only goal is to one day become the youngest Woman Grandmaster (WGM). In order to achieve that, it is important that she takes part in all tournaments for the next two years. The cost of the European tour alone is Rs. 2 million. If anyone volunteers to support her financially, she will definitely be able to win the title of the youngest WGM.
World and Asian-level achievements
2023
- FIDE World Cadet Chess Championship 2023 – U12 Girls’ Champion (This is the first medal won by a Sri Lankan player)
- Western Asian Youth Chess Championship 2023 – U12 Girls’ Classical Event – 1st Runner-Up
- Western Asian Youth Chess Championship 2023 – U12 Girls’ Rapid and Blitz Events – Champion
2022
- Asian Youth Chess Championship – U10 Girls’ – Champion
- Commonwealth Chess Championship – U10 Girls’ – Champion
- Asian Schools Chess Championship – U11 Girls’ Classical – Champion
- Asian Schools Chess Championship – U11 Girls’ Blitz and Rapid 2021 – Champion
2021
- FIDE Online World Cup Cadets and Youth U10 Girls’ – Champion
- Western Asia Youth Online Chess Championship U10 Girls’ – Champion
- Asian Youth Online Chess Championship U10 Girls’ – 2nd Runner-Up
- FIDE Youth Online Rapid Super Final U10 Girls’ – 2nd Runner-Up
- FIDE Online Queen’s Chess Festival – Group D – Champion
Local achievements
2023
- National Youth Chess Championship 2023 – U12 Girls’ – Champion
- National Amateur Chess Championship 2023 – Open Section – 2nd Place
2022
- National Youth Chess Championship 2022 – U10 Open – Champion
- National Youth Chess Championship 2022 – U10 Girls’ – 1st Runner-Up
2019/20
- National Youth Chess Championship 2019-2020 – U7 Girls’ – Champion