AICF awards Rs 42.3 lakh stipends to 42 junior chess players

All India Chess Federation awarded quarterly stipends totaling Rs 42.3 lakh to 42 top junior players from Under-7 to Under-19 categories.

Stipends range from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh per player, based on 2024 National Championship performances.

Funds are intended to support coaching and travel expenses for the prodigies.

AICF describes the initiative as historic, aiming to remove financial barriers in grassroots chess.