Ruhaan Mahindru
Sports
As a young child I developed an interest in two very endearing passions that have defined me: Football and Chess. Both these sports will forever give me tremendous joy and comfort.
Football
My journey with football started at the early age of 4, kicking the ball around the local park with my dad. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with the sport. Soon enough, I joined the school team, becoming the youngest member to do so at the point in time. Guided and mentored by my seniors, today I am proud to be the captain of the very team that adopted me.
Along the way I have also achieved important milestones, both individually and collectively. As top scorer of the team, I led us to our first major victory in the U-16 Mumbai School Sports Association competition. Likewise, I was shortlisted to participate in the SGFI Nationals, representing team IBSO at the highest stage. My passion for football has also led me to organise and host regular recreational matches amongst friends and schools. On a similar note, I also worked alongside my peers from school to organise "Kick for a Cause", a charity tournament with over 150 participants, the proceeds from which we donated to the Association for the Welfare of the Mentally Handicapped Maharashtra to develop their sports programs.
Chess
Chess was another sport that was introduced to me through my father; Initially a leisurely board game, chess grew into a routine intense competition between us. Determined to beat my dad, I studied the game passionately.
Observing my passion for chess, my parents decided to enrol me in a local chess academy. Since then, I have never looked back. Having trained under the guidance of International Masters (IMs) and Fide Masters (FMs), I played at the highest level. I have represented both state and country on various occasions. Some of my major competitions include World Youth Chess Championship, World School Team Chess Championship and National Chess Tournament. I have also been invited to play internationally in countries such as France, Serbia, and Switzerland.
Despite not being able to play competitively during the lockdown, I avidly participated in recreational online tournaments and even organised some for my friends myself.
Sports and I
