India’s chess teams made history on Sunday, claiming gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
The men’s team, led by D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanadhaa, defeated Slovenia 3-0 in the final round to secure the title. Gukesh, playing with black pieces, displayed his technical prowess against Vladimir Fedoseev, while Erigaisi and Praggnanadhaa also emerged victorious.
The women’s team, featuring Tania Sachdev, Koneru Humpy, and Harika Dronavalli, clinched the gold with a 3.5-0.5 triumph over Azerbaijan. Sachdev and Humpy won their matches, while Dronavalli drew hers.
This marks the first time that India has won gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories at the Chess Olympiad. The men’s team had previously won bronze medals in 2014 and 2022, while the women’s team had won bronze in 2022.
After their victory, the Indian contingent celebrated with a unique gesture, imitating the iconic slow-walk celebration of Rohit Sharma and Lionel Messi after winning the T20 World Cup 2024 and FIFA World Cup 2022, respectively.
The Indian men’s team finished the tournament with an impressive 21 points out of a possible 22, conceding only a single draw to Uzbekistan. The women’s team also performed exceptionally, scoring 3.5-0.5 against Azerbaijan.
This historic victory is a testament to the growing strength of chess in India and the dedication and hard work of the players and coaches. It is a proud moment for the nation and a significant milestone in the history of Indian chess.
