Chennai, Tamil Nadu: The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu extended a heartfelt welcome to the Indian chess teams upon their arrival at Chennai airport, celebrating their remarkable achievement at the 45th Chess Olympiad held in Budapest. The men’s team secured victory against Slovenia, while the women’s team triumphed over Azerbaijan, leading both teams to win gold medals in the team event.
This victory marks a historic milestone, as it is the first time in the 90-year history of the Chess Olympiad that India has claimed the gold medal outright, having previously shared the honor with Russia during the 2020 Online Olympiad.
The players were greeted by officials, including the Prime Minister and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, who congratulated them on their success. Team captain Srinath expressed immense pride, stating, “For the first time, both the Indian men’s and women’s teams have won gold at the 45th Chess Olympiad. We have won by scoring more points, showcasing that India is the best team.”
Vaishali Rameshbabu, reflecting on the journey, said, “I’m very happy. We previously won a bronze medal in Chennai, and it was disappointing not to secure gold then. Now, winning gold is a great joy. The men’s team achieved victory by the highest margin of points, while the women’s team won two matches and lost one.”
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa noted the significance of the victory, adding, “We came close last time but missed out. It’s great to win this time with more points, especially after defeating the top-ranked USA, which assured our gold medal. We are grateful to everyone for their support.”
D. Gukesh also shared his excitement, highlighting the team’s strong performance throughout the tournament. “We were all in good form. Even though I expected to face defending world champion Ding Liren from China, I was prepared for any match-up. Our captain, Sreenath, made strategic decisions that led us to consistent victories,” he stated.
The triumphant return of the Indian chess teams not only celebrates their hard-fought victory but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring chess players across the nation.
