Divya Deshmukh’s former school principal at Bhavan’s Civil Lines couldn’t hold her happiness upon getting the news that her student is now a Grandmaster and the FIDE World Champion. Academic Co-ordinator and Manager for Bhavan’s Vidya Mandir Nagpur Anju Bhutani, who was Divya’s principal at the Bhavan’s Civil Lines, branch gave insights about her time at school. Bhutani has known Divya since she was five years old, when she had just began her chess journey. “You could see the determination and hunger in her eyes, she used to come into my cabin almost every alternate week, to show me her a new trophy with a twinkling smile on her face,” Bhutani recalled while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.

 

“She did not sacrifice anything, Divya is now the biggest example of sports and academic balance! The school helped her academics and also provided her with extra coaching whenever required, her class teachers Seema Khatri, Doriss Vag and Snehal Chopde followed a special academic schedule mad kept close contact with her parents,” she said. “Victory never entered her head and neither was she disappointed at defeat, we had always hoped for the best for her. From hearing her achievements in the morning assembly to every person in India talking about her, she has grown exponentially, and I wish her all the very best for her future endeavours,” she concluded.