The Journey of a Father's Dream and a Daughter's Destiny
In the quiet, earthy hamlet near Etikoppaka, famed for its delicate Lakka Bommalu (lacquer toys) that spin stories in wood and color, a new story is being carved—not with a chisel but with vision, sweat, and sacrifice. This is not just the story of Sravyasree Bheemarasetty, the newly crowned Andhra Pradesh Women Chess Champion – 2025, but of a father who saw brilliance where others saw just a pastime, and of a family that wrapped their dreams around a chessboard.
Roots of Grit: From a Farmer’s Heart
Bheemarasetty Yugandhar, a humble agriculturist from S. Rayavaram village in Anakapalli district, carries in his veins the discipline of soil and seasons. Armed with an M.Sc. in Industrial Microbiology, his career drifted into aquaculture, but his soul never left the paddy fields. Yugandhar’s wife, Rajani, an M.Com graduate, chose to be the anchor of the household—quietly powerful, tirelessly supportive.
They lived a simple life, 70 kilometers away from Vizag’s clamor, where ambition is usually sown with the harvest, not with a chess set. But Yugandhar saw something—a spark, a pattern—in the way his elder daughter Sravya looked at problems and pursued logic. The family, once deeply rooted in farming and tradition, slowly began shifting gears toward a future plotted with bishops and pawns.
The Accidental Opening: COVID and a Cousin
It all began during the eerie stillness of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2021. While the world was shut indoors, Yugandhar’s house buzzed with strategy. His cousin Malla Nookaraju, stranded in the village due to the pandemic, introduced chess to Sravya. That stroke of fortune turned into a fierce passion.
Within months, Sravya moved from online events to her first field tournament at Swarnabharathi Indoor Stadium. Her rating journey began at 1060. As she played across districts and states, the numbers climbed. Now at 1938, every move on the board tells the story of relentless grind.
Legacy in the Bloodline
Chess wasn’t a foreign word in the family. Mr. Rajasekhar Pentakota, Yugandhar’s cousin, once played on the national stage. Even Yugandhar himself competed at the university level. Perhaps it was inevitable that a fire, once dormant, would reignite in the next generation.
And that fire is now a blaze. Under the mentorship of P. Ramakrishna, a coach known for sculpting champions, Sravya has transformed into a tactical warrior. Her performances in the last three months have been electrifying—U15 State Champion at Visakhapatnam, Champion in the Rajahmundry State Open (400+ players), and now, the crowning glory—2025 State Women’s Champion.
A Lakka Bomma in Flesh and Spirit
Just as Etikoppaka’s lacquer dolls are delicately handcrafted with precision and patience, Sravya has been shaped with the same loving intensity. She is that Lakka Bomma—graceful, poised, deeply rooted in tradition, yet destined to stand on global stages. “She’s our living doll,” says Yugandhar, proud tears twinkling behind his tired eyes.
The Philosophy of Patience
Despite having the means to travel abroad, Yugandhar has resisted the lure of international circuits. "A 2100 rating in India, gained against gritty, unpredictable local talent, is equal to 2300 abroad," he believes. For him, growth must come the hard way—the Indian way. And only after earning her stripes on home soil will he let Sravya venture overseas.
His logic is experience-hardened. In open FIDE events, Sravya often faces under-rated but highly skilled senior players. Losing to them may hurt her rating, but playing them sharpens her instincts. These are not setbacks, they’re silent tutors.
The Mentor, the Shadow, the Father
Today, Yugandhar is more than a father. He is a coach, a scheduler, a nutritionist, a psychologist—all rolled into one. But he doesn’t walk alone. His wife Rajani quietly balances business responsibilities, freeing him to accompany their daughter to tournaments across the state. "Without her," he says, "none of this is possible."
A Second Sunrise
His younger daughter, Sahasra, is already showing signs of high IQ and rapid puzzle-solving ability. Though Yugandhar currently devotes most of his energy to Sravya, he has quietly laid plans to mentor Sahasra next. “Once Sravya becomes fully independent,” he says, “my second innings begins.”
Beyond Just Medals
Sravya’s track record speaks volumes—Top 8 in National U11 (2023), 7th in U13, and 4th in U17 Nationals. Her father's biggest wish? That she wins Gold in U13 this year, and climbs onto the global stage. Inspired by Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Arjun, and above all, Humpy Koneru, Yugandhar’s goal is as audacious as it is poetic—World Champion.
But for now, his greatest trophy is not on a shelf. It’s the confidence in Sravya’s eyes, the respect in the voices of those who once doubted him, and the unshakable bond he shares with his daughters.
Final Move
Once considered eccentric for choosing tournaments over tuitions, Yugandhar now stands vindicated. The chessboard, once a casual pastime during lockdown, has become their universe. With sweat-streaked brows and prayer-whispering lips, this farmer-turned-mentor has sowed dreams not in furrows, but on 64 squares.
In S. Rayavaram, under the rustling coconut palms and beside the lacquer toys of Etikoppaka, a new sculpture is taking shape—a champion carved by belief, sacrifice, and a father's unbreakable faith.