Indian Chess Teams Rewarded with ₹3.2 Crore for Historic Olympiad Triumph
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) celebrated the historic triumph of the Indian teams at the 45th Chess Olympiad with a grand felicitation ceremony in New Delhi. The event witnessed the announcement of a staggering ₹3.2 crore in rewards for the gold medal-winning squads.
AICF President Nitin Narang unveiled the generous rewards, with each player from the victorious teams receiving ₹25 lakh. The captains of the men’s and women’s teams, Abhijeet Kunte and Srinath Narayanan, were honored with ₹15 lakh each. Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, the head of the Indian delegation, received ₹10 lakh, while the assistant coaches were rewarded with ₹7.5 lakh.
“The hunger for gold ended in Hungary, but the desire for success continues,” declared Narang during the felicitation. “In the open section, we dominated, and in the women’s section, we owned it.”
AICF Secretary General Dev A Patel expressed optimism that the historic twin gold medals would ignite a chess revolution in India. “In 97 years of Chess Olympiad, we won gold in both categories. It’s a historic achievement,” Patel said. “This will give a new spark to chess enthusiasts. We will look to use this momentum to encourage the next generation of chess players.”
India’s triumph at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest marked a watershed moment in Indian chess history. The men’s team, led by D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa, displayed unwavering dominance throughout the tournament, defeating Slovenia in the final round. Gukesh, the star performer, won 10 of 11 rounds, propelling India to the top with 21 out of a possible 22 points.
The women’s team, captained by D Harika, Tania Sachdev, and R Vaishali, secured their gold by defeating Azerbaijan in a tense final. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally congratulated the champions, praising their dedication and impact on Indian sports.
The AICF’s generous rewards and the historic achievement of the Indian teams are expected to inspire a new generation of chess players in India, further solidifying the country’s position as a global chess powerhouse.