KATHMANDU, April 9: The Gift of Chess, a US-based organization recognized by the United Nations, has appointed Monalisha Khamboo, founder of the Himalayan Chess Academy, as its ambassador for Nepal.
The New York-headquartered organization announced Khamboo's appointment on Wednesday through its X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts.
With this appointment, the 34-year-old Khamboo has become the first Nepali chess player to serve as an ambassador for an international chess organization.
Asian Zonal chess championship from March 18
The Gift of Chess said it selected Khamboo as ambassador for her achievements both on and off the board. Sharing her journey spanning over two decades in chess, the organization also noted that through Khamboo, it plans to distribute 1,000 chess sets to schools, prisons, and community centers across Nepal.
Established in December 2020 as a philanthropic organization, The Gift of Chess is on a mission to distribute one million chess sets worldwide by 2030. The organization says it has already distributed 200,000 chess sets in 70 countries.
Khamboo holds several distinctions in Nepali chess. She is the first women's national chess champion and the highest-rated female player in Nepal, with a FIDE rating of 1877. She is also the country's first female International Arbiter (IA).
At the age of 14, she represented Nepal at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. She has since competed in two Asian Games, three Asian Indoor Games, and three Chess Olympiads. She is also the first Nepali woman to serve as an arbiter at a Chess Olympiad, having officiated at Chennai 2022.
Currently serving as Deputy General Secretary of the Nepal Chess Association, Khamboo is also a member of the FIDE Commission for Women's Chess.
Since founding the Himalayan Chess Academy two years ago, she has trained over 200 players at her chess hall in Thapathali. The academy provides regular chess training to schools, community groups, women, and children with autism.
Within just two years, the academy has successfully organized 14 chess tournaments covering classical, rapid, blitz, and puzzle-solving formats, and has managed nearly three dozen more competitions.
