Padmini being lauded after her arrival and (below) students of DAV public school wait for her arrival. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 22: The DAV Public School, Chandrasekharpur, is basking in the glory of its 16-year-old student, Padmini Rout, who is now a Woman Grandmaster.

Principal K.C. Satpathy tries hard to hide his happiness but fails.

“Besides bringing laurels to the country and state, she has done the school proud. Every now and then we hear of her achievements. She just gets better with every tournament,” he said with a proud smile. Padmini, he adds, has motivated scores of other students and the number of participants, from DAV, in chess tournaments, has grown exponentially over the last three years.

The school, besides providing moral support, has, in the past, paid Padmini’s registration fee for participating in the chess tournaments and also exempted her from paying the school tuition fee “as a goodwill gesture”. “We stopped paying for the registration once she started getting sponsors,” says Satpathy.

The principal also showered praise on her parents Ashok and Sasmita Rout. “They are ideal parents. They have always encouraged their daughter to chase her dreams and grow,” he said.

Since she remains busy with chess, Padmini hardly finds time to attend classes. But with short-term preparations, she has maintained a decent academic record.

“She is gifted, extremely devoted. Even with a month’s preparation, she scores good marks.

“As far as chess is concerned, I would rate her 9.9 on a scale on 10. As a kid, she used to guide her opponents while playing. She never found a good enough competitor,” said Naba Kishor Mohapatra, head of the physical education department at the school.

According to Mohapatra, Padmini has a huge fan following not only in the country but abroad as well. “The only continents where she has not left her footprints are Africa and Australia,” he added.

Padmini’s influence has also rubbed off on her classmates and juniors.

Her classmate Swetaleena Mohapatra, a national level table tennis player, said, “We have been friends since kindergarten. Even after tasting international success, there is no change in her attitude towards friends or elders.”

Another classmate, Pratik Pattnaik, who has represented the state in football, describes her as “down to earth, although a bit of an introvert”.

Not just classmates, Padmini has also motivated juniors at her school.

“Padmini is a complete package of talent, inspiration and encouragement,” said Devanshi Panda, a kho-kho player of class 11. Akankhya Kabi, class VII student and a state-level junior chess champion, aims to scale new heights just like the Padmini. “Whenever she visits the school, she gives aspirants some about the game and sportsmanship. She is my idol,” Akankhya said.

So, what is being done to promote chess in the school? “We don’t have a chess coach but we have created an ambience for the students pursue their passions.

“Our school has produced many sportspersons in the past and there are several other budding talents,” says Satpathy.