Turkmen chess player Lala Shokhradova is performing well at the Asian Girls’ U20 Championship, which is being held in Mumbai, India. The competition is featuring the strongest junior players from India, Kazakhstan, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Sixty chess players participated in the rapid tournament. Four players represent Turkmenistan: Jahan Rejepova, Myahri Agamuradova, Leyla Shokhradova, and Lala Shokhradova.
Lala Shokhradova (rated 2181), a student at the Yagshigeldy Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas, confidently won the rapid tournament. After seven rounds, she scored 6 points out of a possible 7 and took first place.
Final standings:
- Lala Shokhradova (Turkmenistan) — 6 points
- Pratiti Bordoloi (India) — 6 points
- Prishita Gupta (India) — 5 points
The path to the gold medal was not easy. After losing in the third round to her Turkmenistan teammate, WFM Jahan Rejepova, Lala showed character and demonstrated a high level of play. She won all her games in the remaining rounds, taking first place.
The games of the sixth and seventh rounds were especially crucial. In both matches, the Turkmen player found herself in difficult positions and was forced to engage in a tense battle. Thanks to her composure, tenacity, and precise calculation, Lala managed to turn the tide and secure two key victories that secured her the championship title.
