An 18-member Nepali chess team departed for Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, on Thursday morning to compete in the West Asian Youth Chess Championship 2026, scheduled to run from October 22 to 31. Nepal Chess Federation spokesperson Raju Tamrakar saw the team off at Tribhuvan International Airport before its journey to the tournament.
Nepal sends players across age groups
The Nepal Chess Federation is sending players from various age groups to the championship. The delegation’s playing contingent consists of 18 members and is led by federation central member Nita Sainju. The team’s departure brings together the players under the federation’s leadership for the international youth event in Ahmedabad.
The federation’s participation spans multiple age groups, though the available announcement did not specify the individual players, their age categories or the composition of the team beyond its 18-member playing contingent. The players are representing Nepal at a championship whose schedule covers ten days, from October 22 through October 31.
Tamrakar’s presence at the airport marked the team’s formal send-off. As spokesperson, he represented the federation at the departure, while Sainju is leading the delegation. The announcement did not provide further details about the team’s travel arrangements or its schedule after arrival in Gujarat.
Championship begins in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, in the Indian state of Gujarat, is the host location for the competition. The Nepali players are travelling there for the event’s opening date of October 22, with the championship set to continue until October 31. The departure took place on the morning of October 22, according to reports published about the team’s journey.
The championship provides the setting for Nepal’s youth players to compete in chess outside the country. The federation has confirmed its participation and the delegation’s leadership, while the announcement focuses on the team’s departure and the event dates. No information was provided about Nepal’s opponents, the tournament draw, individual match pairings or the number of participating countries.
The team’s arrival in Ahmedabad will precede its participation in the scheduled competition. With players from different age groups travelling together, the delegation represents the federation’s youth contingent at the event. The federation has not announced individual player profiles or separate targets for the participating age categories in the information accompanying the departure.
Federation delegation heads to India
The departure is a federation-organised trip, with Sainju leading the team and Tamrakar attending the send-off at Tribhuvan International Airport. The 18-member figure refers to the playing team; the announcement does not state whether other officials are travelling with the delegation.
Nepal’s participation is set against a defined tournament window, giving the team a scheduled competition period of October 22-31 in Ahmedabad. Further details about results, player performances or the team’s progress were not available at the time of departure. The federation’s announcement confirms the destination, the team’s size and leadership, and its participation in the West Asian Youth Chess Championship 2026.
