R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, NOV 2
Champions are not made in a moment of glory; they are built through years of discipline, sacrifice and the courage to compete against the best. Celebrating that spirit, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) has announced cash rewards totalling ₹23 lakh for six student achievers and an alumna whose performances have brought international recognition in archery, squash, sailing and chess.
- Archer Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam bags ₹10 lakh after winning Asian Games team gold and individual bronze
- Squash player Shameena Riaz and sailing star Nethra Kumanan receive ₹5 lakh each for their Asian Games bronze medals
- Chess prodigies Srihari L.R., Hari Krishnan A. RA and V. S. Rahul earn ₹1 lakh each after securing Grandmaster titles
- SRMIST celebrates what it describes as a university first: three students becoming chess Grandmasters in a single academic year
- Founder Chancellor T. R. Paarivendhar credits dedication, discipline and perseverance for the achievers’ success
- Institution links its sporting development vision to India’s ambition of making a mark at the 2036 Olympic Games
The rewards recognise three medal-winning performances at the 20th Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026 in Japan, held from September 19 to October 4, as well as a remarkable milestone in chess: three SRMIST students earning the prestigious Grandmaster (GM) title during the 2025–26 academic year.
At a felicitation ceremony in Chennai on Monday, Dr Ravi Pachamuthu, Pro-Chancellor (Administration), SRMIST, presented the rewards in the presence of Dr R. Mohana Krishnan, Director, Directorate of Sports, and Dr S. Ponnusamy, Registrar.
An Asian Games double that earned archery gold
Among the awardees, Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam, a third-year BCA (Data Science) student, emerged as a standout performer in archery at the Asian Games. He won gold in the Compound Men’s Team event and bronze in the Compound Individual event, earning a reward of ₹10 lakh.
His achievement demonstrates how precision, composure and teamwork can translate into success on one of the biggest stages in international sport. For aspiring archers, it also offers a reminder that excellence in individual competition and team events rests on sustained preparation and the ability to perform under pressure.
Shameena Riaz, a second-year BTech student in Electronics and Communication Engineering, won a bronze medal in women’s squash at the Games. She will receive ₹5 lakh in recognition of her achievement.
SRMIST alumna Nethra Kumanan, who completed her MBA, also secured a bronze medal in the ILCA 6 Women’s Sailing event. Her performance earned her a further ₹5 lakh reward, bringing the total allocated to the three Asian Games medal winners to ₹20 lakh.
Together, the three athletes represent different sporting disciplines but share a common achievement: translating years of training and competitive experience into success at the continental level.
Three Grandmasters, one academic year
SRMIST’s celebrations extend beyond the sporting arena to the demanding world of competitive chess. Three of its students—Srihari L.R., Hari Krishnan A. RA and V. S. Rahul—earned the Grandmaster title during the 2025–26 academic year.
The institution describes this as the first time a university in India has produced three chess Grandmasters in a single academic year.
Srihari, a third-year BCom student at the Vadapalani Campus, became India’s 86th Grandmaster. Hari Krishnan, a second-year MCom student at the same campus, became India’s 87th Grandmaster, while Rahul, a second-year MBA student at the Kattankulathur Campus, became India’s 91st Grandmaster.
Each of the three chess achievers will receive ₹1 lakh, taking the total reward for the Grandmasters to ₹3 lakh.
The achievement highlights the intellectual discipline demanded by elite chess, where strategic foresight, pattern recognition, emotional control and the ability to make decisions under pressure are developed through years of study and competition.
A message for India’s next generation of champions
The felicitation underscores the importance of institutions recognising achievement not merely through applause but through tangible support. Financial rewards can acknowledge the efforts of athletes and chess players while encouraging younger students to pursue excellence in disciplines that demand sustained commitment.
In his message, Founder Chancellor T. R. Paarivendhar said:
“At SRMIST, we believe that excellence is achieved through dedication, discipline, perseverance, and the determination to push boundaries. The remarkable accomplishments of our students and alumna at the international level, along with our three students earning the prestigious Grandmaster title in a single academic year, are a testament to the talent nurtured at our institution. These achievements bring immense pride to SRMIST and the nation.”
The institution said the accomplishments reflect its Founder Chancellor’s vision of nurturing sporting talent, promoting excellence and developing future champions, in line with India’s aspirations for the 2036 Olympic Games.
For young sportspersons and chess enthusiasts, the six achievers offer an encouraging lesson: international recognition is not reserved for a select few by birth or circumstance. It can be pursued through access to training, institutional support, discipline, resilience and the determination to keep improving.
The ₹23-lakh felicitation therefore celebrates more than medals and titles. It recognises the hard work behind them—and the possibility that today’s student achievers could inspire the next generation of Indian champions.