Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met with the Indian men’s and women’s chess teams, both of which made history by winning their maiden gold medals at the recently concluded 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.
The Prime Minister personally congratulated each player, offering his blessings and appreciation. As a token of their success, the teams presented him with a chessboard. PM Modi also took time to watch a blitz game between young chess prodigies Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi. According to a video provided by authorities, Praggnanandhaa was seen laughing during his introduction as PM Modi shared a lighthearted moment with the players.
In an unprecedented triumph, both the men’s and women’s teams clinched their first-ever gold medals at the Olympiad last Sunday.
The men’s team, led by the outstanding performances of D. Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, secured the gold medal after a thrilling final-round victory against Slovenia. The team, which also included R. Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna, remained undefeated throughout the event, finishing ahead of chess powerhouses like the United States, China, and the 2022 winner Uzbekistan.
On the women’s side, the team comprising Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev, under the guidance of non-playing captain Abhijit Kunte, also claimed gold after defeating Azerbaijan. Their victory placed them ahead of Kazakhstan and the United States.
The men’s team, captained by Srinath Narayanan, dominated the tournament, winning 10 matches and drawing just one. Before the final round, they had built a solid two-point lead over China. In the decisive final round, India only needed a draw to secure the gold, or for China to falter. However, the Indian team pressed for victory, defeating Slovenia 3.5-0.5 to seal the win.
The women’s team had a strong start, winning all of their first seven matches and leading the tournament. Though they faced a setback in round 8 with a loss to Poland and a draw with the USA, they made a strong comeback. Heading into the final round, India was tied for first place with Kazakhstan. The Indian women’s team held their composure, winning their final match against Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5, while Kazakhstan could only manage a 2-2 draw with the USA, securing India’s sole claim to the gold medal.
This remarkable achievement by both teams marks a new era in Indian chess, as the country continues to shine on the global stage.
