Indian Chess Teams Honored for Double Gold at 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad

New Delhi, September 26: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, along with Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, celebrated the Indian chess teams’ double gold win at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad. The event took place in New Delhi to honor the remarkable achievements of the chess teams, whose victories have brought immense pride and joy to the nation.

India’s Rich Chess Heritage

During his interaction with the chess players, Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted India’s rich connection with chess, noting that the game originated in India and is an integral part of the country’s cultural and intellectual heritage. “By winning on the global stage, you have not only made the entire nation proud but have also honored the legacy of our traditional heritage,” Mandaviya said.

Government’s Commitment to Sports

Mandaviya emphasized that India’s strength lies not just in its manpower but in its brainpower, too. “The Government of India is committed to creating an ecosystem that encourages and nurtures talent across all sports disciplines. We want our athletes to feel motivated to showcase their talent on the world stage and bring laurels to the nation,” he mentioned. He reaffirmed the government’s focus on sports development, announcing that India aims to be among the top five nations in the world in sports by 2024.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Mandaviya urged the medallists to be active ambassadors of the youth, encouraging them to share their stories of hard work, resilience, and dedication with the next generation. “I call upon you to visit schools, colleges, and other institutions to inspire our youth. Channel their energy towards nation-building and guide them with your journey. You are both youth icons and youth ambassadors, and it is your responsibility to motivate the next generation to adopt the spirit of ‘Nation First.'”

He further encouraged the athletes to participate in the Ministry’s Viksit Bharat Ambassador – Yuva Connect Programme, which is being held at various educational institutions across India. “This initiative is designed to channel the youth’s energy for realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. I urge you to actively participate in this programme and contribute to shaping the future of our country,” he added.

Chess Achievements

Union Minister also engaged in a friendly chess match with Gukesh Dommaraju, the young chess prodigy and rising star of the game. India marked a significant milestone in chess history after clinching two gold medals from the event–gold in the open category won by the men’s team and a gold in the women’s category. At the 45th Chess Olympiad, the men and women defeated Slovenia and Azerbaijan, respectively, in the final rounds to clinch the titles.

In the Open section, Team India won 10 out of 11 matches, drawing only once against the previous edition’s champion, Team Uzbekistan. India topped the table with 21 points. In the women’s section, Team India won 9 out of 11 matches, with one draw against Team USA and one loss to Team Poland. India topped the table with 19 points.

Four Indian players also won individual gold medals for their exceptional performances: Gukesh D. on Board 1 and Arjun Erigaisi on Board 3 in the Open section, along with Divya Deshmukh on Board 3 and Vantika Agrawal on Board 4 in the Women’s section.

Meeting with Prime Minister

In a heartwarming note, the chess champions expressed their immense gratitude, they had met and interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They said this has deeply motivated and inspired them to continue working hard and making the nation proud with their future achievements.

Mansukh Mandaviya -: Mansukh Mandaviya is a person who works for the Indian government. He helps take care of sports and youth activities in India.

Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a person who has an important job in the Indian government. They help make decisions for the country.

Youth Affairs and Sports -: Youth Affairs and Sports is a part of the government that focuses on activities and programs for young people and sports.

Raksha Khadse -: Raksha Khadse is another person who works for the Indian government, helping with youth and sports activities.

45th FIDE Chess Olympiad -: The 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad is a big international chess competition where teams from different countries play against each other. FIDE is the organization that manages chess competitions worldwide.

New Delhi -: New Delhi is the capital city of India. It is where many important government buildings and events are located.

Viksit Bharat Ambassador – Yuva Connect Programme -: This is a program in India that encourages young people to help make the country better and more developed.

Slovenia -: Slovenia is a small country in Europe. The Indian men’s chess team played against their team and won.

Azerbaijan -: Azerbaijan is a country located between Europe and Asia. The Indian women’s chess team played against their team and won.