Tania Sachdev aims to be
Women's GM in two years

Anyone who says beauty and brains are a rare combo surely hasn't met Tania Sachdev.

The Asian Junior girls' chess champion aims to be the second woman in the country to get the Grandmaster's norm and gives herself only two years' time to achieve the feat.

''My ultimate aim is to become the number one women's chess player in the world, but at present I am concentrating on the WGM norm. Two years time is good enough for me,'' the five-foot-seven Tania, who won the Asian Junior tournament in Colombo on Friday, said at a felicitation function in Delhi on Monday.

For Tania, considered by many as one of the best-looking sportswomen in the country, limelight and success came at a very early age. The youngest girl to win an international event at the age of eight, Tania created history by winning five titles in the British championship in Norwich in 1994 and earned the International Master's norm last year.

She was National champion in the under-12 category in 1997 and 1998, and the Delhi champion in the under-19 category in 1999.

Tania, who will celebrate her 16th birthday on August 20, attaches importance to time and strives to reach the top as early as possible.

''Contrary to the belief that chess has no age-limits, I think after a certain age your concentration and stamina starts declining,'' she explained.

Tania had rejected several modelling offers, saying she wants to devote her life to chess.

''If there is anything else, it is studies which is very important for the overall growth of your personality,'' she said.

Now, in the 11th standard, having scored over 70 per cent in the tenth boards exam, she says: ''Studies actually help me in concentration and have been beneficial for my game. They have opened up dimensions and added an edge to my game.''