Kathmandu: Nihana Shrestha, a 12-year-old chess player who represents the growing potential of a young female talent in Nepal. She is a student from the Himalayan Chess Academy with an inspiring journey.
Shrestha recently won the Individual Silver Medal (Board Prize) with a score of 5.5 out of 7 at the Asian School Team Championship 2026 held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. This win highlights her strength at the international level. She represented Marvellous English Boarding School along with Suhani Singh, Kristi Rijal,Brijnandan Das and Aakarshan Kunwar.
In 2025, she participated in Himalayan Queen’s Gambit 2025 and secured the position of 1st Runner-Up. Building on that experience, she achieved many titles in the tournament throughout 2025 and achieved a rating so this year as she was rated player, she participated as mentor and technical volunteer in Himalayan Queen’s Gambit 2026, where she supported and guided other young participants.
She is also a scholarship student at Himalayan Chess Academy, where the academy has been training her since their establishment, and she stands out as one of their best students. Over the years, her commitment and growth have been exceptional, earning her the title “Queen of Himalayas” within the academy, an award presented for outstanding talent, determination, and for inspiring young girls to dream and achieve in chess. Furthermore, she was selected to represent Nepal’s National A Pool in National Top 12 selected women players for the national Chess Championship 2025, the country’s top official squad for international competitions marking a significant milestone in her journey at such a young age.
Nihana’s story reflects not only individual talent but also the importance of support and opportunities for young girls in chess. We believe her journey aligns closely with the mission of the FIDE Women’s Commission to empower women in chess globally.
