India Wins Gold in Men’s and Women’s Chess at FIDE Olympiad
New Delhi, India – September 23: India has achieved a remarkable feat by winning gold medals in both the men’s and women’s events at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad held in Budapest.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Congratulations
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar congratulated the teams on their success. He wrote on X, ‘Two Golds, One Nation! Congratulations to both our men’s and women’s teams for securing the first spot at the ChessOlympiad2024.’
Priyanka Gandhi’s Praise
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also praised the teams, stating that the whole country is proud of them. She wrote on X, ‘Indian players created history in the Chess Olympiad. The men’s team won the gold medal for the first time in the open section. The Indian team has also won gold for the first time in the women’s category. Many congratulations to all the players and team members. The whole country is proud of you all. Jai Hind.’
Men’s Team Victory
The Indian men’s team, consisting of D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna, defeated Slovenia to win the gold medal. Wins from Gukesh and Erigaisi gave India a 2-0 lead, and Praggnanandhaa’s victory, along with a draw from Vidit, sealed the gold with a 3.5-0.5 victory.
Women’s Team Triumph
The Indian women’s team, featuring Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and Tania Sachdev, secured gold by defeating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5. Harika, Divya, and Vantika each won their matches, while Vaishali drew her match. This victory improved their bronze medal from the Chennai Olympiad in 2022, which was their first.
Historical Achievements
India’s previous best performances in the Chess Olympiad include two bronze medals in 2014 and 2022. In an online Olympiad in 2020 during COVID-19, India shared the gold with Russia.
Doubts Revealed
FIDE -: FIDE is the International Chess Federation, which organizes chess competitions around the world.
Chess Olympiad -: The Chess Olympiad is a big international chess tournament where teams from different countries compete.
Sachin Tendulkar -: Sachin Tendulkar is a famous Indian cricketer, often called the ‘God of Cricket’ in India.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is an Indian politician and a member of the famous Nehru-Gandhi family.
D Gukesh -: D Gukesh is a young and talented Indian chess player.
R Praggnanandhaa -: R Praggnanandhaa is another young Indian chess prodigy who has achieved great success.
Harika Dronavalli -: Harika Dronavalli is a top Indian female chess player.
R Vaishali -: R Vaishali is a skilled Indian female chess player and the sister of R Praggnanandhaa.
Slovenia -: Slovenia is a small country in Europe.
Azerbaijan -: Azerbaijan is a country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
