As Sarasadat Khademalsharieh sat down for our interview by the poolside at Trident Resort on that nice morning in Mumbai, a mild breeze made her darkish hair flutter. She had earned that freedom — to not have her hair coated — at a heavy worth. She misplaced her nationality.
Sara Khadem — she is best recognized today by that shorter model of her identify — not represents Iran in worldwide chess tournaments. She performs for Spain. After competing within the World Speedy and Blitz Championships in Kazakhstan in 2022 with out carrying a scarf — it was one of many boldest strikes ever by a Girl Grandmaster — a warrant for her arrest was issued in Iran. She was given nationality by Spain, the place she has been dwelling for the final three years.
The primary time Sara got here to India, she had made headlines. She completed runner-up on the World Junior Championship in Pune in 2014. 4 years later, she completed second on the World Speedy and Blitz Championships, performing a lot better than her seeding in each tournaments. Excerpts from the interview in Mumbai, the place she performed for PBG Alaskan Knights within the third version of the International Chess League:
How do you look again at that call to not put on a scarf for the World Speedy and Blitz Championships at Almaty? It’s essential to have been upset by the dying of Mahsa Amini in police custody in Iran.
I used to be. I believe everybody in Iran was upset. Earlier than that, I all the time had this type of combined feeling about this complete factor. However after it occurred, lots of my mates have been going to protest on the street, which was very dangerous. That was the time I simply had my son. And I used to be in Tehran with my husband and my son, who was little or no, perhaps six months previous.
A lot of my mates have been a part of the protest in their very own methods. I felt they have been taking actually critical dangers. Once I obtained invited to this event in Kazakhstan, I didn’t need to go there simply to make a transfer [on the board]. I instructed my husband, ‘If I’m going there, it doesn’t really feel proper if I’m going the identical manner, carrying the headband, and I do know that I’ve the prospect to not put on it.’ However I didn’t need to go to the event to make a scene there.
Was that the primary time you weren’t carrying a scarf publicly?
Publicly, in an official occasion, sure, I suppose.
Now studies from Iran recommend that many ladies don’t put on headscarves.
All the women, they stopped doing that. They usually [authorities] can not management it any extra. However the issue in Iran just isn’t solely the scarves. There are such a lot of of them.
Image of focus: Sara Khadem in motion on the GCL .
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You are actually taking part in for Spain. Alireza Firouzja, simply the best participant Iran has ever produced and who Magnus Carlsen mentioned he was eager to play a World title match in opposition to, is taking part in for France…
I used to be very disillusioned when he determined to play for France, however not together with his choice. I even bear in mind I gave an interview which obtained me into plenty of hassle at the moment. Even when he was youthful, after I was having some interviews, I’d all the time say: ‘Allow us to not discuss myself, however discuss him as a result of he’s such an important expertise’. Even when he was a child, it was very apparent that he was going to be such an important participant. Then, no person actually cared about him.
The primary medal that he obtained on the Grand Prix was underneath the FIDE flag, as a result of in that event, not one of the Iranian gamers obtained permission to play. He was already dwelling in France at the moment. Then I additionally modified my federation. It’s not very good to alter the nation you signify. Earlier, I assumed perhaps one thing would change. Then later I realised, nothing was going to alter. I saved on saying that ‘In the event that they don’t change, another prime gamers additionally may go away’.
Iran has produced so many high quality gamers…
Iran is an enormous nation with a extremely massive historical past in chess; it is likely one of the international locations that promoted chess to the opposite facet of the world. Once I began taking part in we already had good gamers, like Ehsan Ghaem-Maghami and Atousa Pourkashiyan. They have been all doing effectively in Asian tournaments. After we get a extremely good participant, the others additionally get motivated they usually prepare quite a bit. And in some unspecified time in the future, we had actually good coaches. Our federation had extra money earlier and the federal government was extra supportive. So we had plenty of gamers. And I believe the end result was this complete technology. However they stopped that.
You at one stage had a ranking of near 2500 Elo factors.
At the moment, I had some issues with the federal government. I had a journey ban, which was for six months. And Covid occurred. Then I had my son, so 4 years simply handed in a blink. And it impacts you, you don’t play as a lot or professionally as earlier than. Even now, I wouldn’t say it’s the similar because it was after I was 20. Sure, I need to play in additional tournaments, however it’s tougher to handle, with household life and all. However I see many gamers are managing to try this.
How do you discover the International Chess League?
It’s a very attention-grabbing occasion. I had performed the primary season as effectively in Dubai, the place I used to be a reserve participant. I got here in the midst of the event, and I performed for Triveni Continental Kings [which went on to win the tournament]. The group composition, particularly having the junior gamers together with women and men, and the time management make it extra enjoyable to look at.
Novel expertise: Sara finds the GCL ‘attention-grabbing’. ‘The group composition, having the juniors together with women and men, and the time management make it extra enjoyable to look at,’ she says.
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You’ve got gained the Spanish girls’s championship. What’s the state of ladies’s chess in Spain?
It’s sturdy, we now have a superb group. We completed fourth on the final Olympiad; we tied for third place, actually [USA claimed bronze with the best tie-breaker].
How do you discover life in Spain?
The individuals are very welcoming. You understand I actually like Iran too, to be honest, however I’d say with a little bit child, I choose dwelling in Spain.
Do you communicate Spanish now?
I perceive fairly a bit, however the place I reside, it is vitally touristy. So I believe to be taught Spanish, it’s essential put in some critical time. I’m glad my son is choosing up Spanish from college. Generally when he speaks, he says some Spanish phrases. The opposite day he instructed me, ‘Quita mama’. I requested one among my mates what these phrases meant, and she or he was laughing. What my son instructed me was: ‘Get misplaced mummy’.
Revealed – January 30, 2026 11:53 pm IST
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