New Delhi. Bharat’s men’s and women’s chess teams both won their first-ever gold medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad on September 22. The men’s team had a strong win against Slovenia, while the women’s team defeated Azerbaijan.
The men’s team, featuring young and talented grandmasters like D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R. Praggnanandha, displayed their skills in the final round and defeated Slovenia 3-0. At the same time, the women’s team achieved a strong 3.5-0.5 victory over Azerbaijan, giving Bharat a rare double gold at the prestigious tournament.
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The men’s chess team had an amazing tournament, finishing with an impressive 21 points out of 22. They stayed unbeaten, with their only draw against Uzbekistan. This historic win in the open category was fuelled by the outstanding performances of World Championship contender D Gukesh and his teammates Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, who stepped up when it counted.
The women’s team matched the men’s success with an impressive performance against Azerbaijan. D. Harika, Divya Deshmukh, R. Vaishali, and Vantika Agrawal led the team to a 3.5-0.5 victory, earning Bharat its second gold medal.
Harika played a key role on the top board, showcasing her technical skills. Divya Deshmukh excelled again, defeating her opponent and securing not only the team’s gold but also an individual gold medal on the third board. After R. Vaishali drew her game, Vantika Agrawal stepped up and delivered a crucial win, confirming India’s victory and achieving double gold in the Olympiad.
A Historic Achievement
Bharat’s performance at the 45th Chess Olympiad is a major milestone for the country. Previously, Bharat won bronze medals in the men’s (2014, 2022) and women’s (2022) categories, but this time both teams took home gold medals, marking Bharat’s place in the world of chess.
Prime Minister acknowledges double gold in Chess Olympiad
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged Team Bharat’s double gold victory at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad and said that “Bharat is full of energy and dreams”.
Bharat delivered an outstanding performance at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, securing gold medals in both the men’s and women’s events on September 22.
