**Historic Victory for India in Chess Olympiad**
In a remarkable display of skill and strategy, India’s chess teams have made history by winning two gold medals at the 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Hungary. The men’s team, comprising D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna, secured a thrilling victory in the open section, while the women’s team, consisting of Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and Tania Sachdev, also claimed gold.
The men’s team confirmed their victory with wins from D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, giving them an unassailable lead over China in the standings. R Praggnandhaa later won his game, and Vidit completed the formalities with a draw.
The women’s team adopted a cautious approach, keeping their games even before risking an attack. They eventually defeated Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5 and waited anxiously for the outcome of the tie between Kazakhstan and the USA. In the end, India’s victory was confirmed, marking their first-ever gold medal at the Olympiad.
Individual gold medals were also won by D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi in boards 1 and 3, respectively, while Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Agarwal won boards 3 and 4, making it four individual gold medals for India in total.
This historic achievement underlines the strength and depth of India’s chess scene, particularly after a Candidates tournament that saw five Indians involved. The women’s team improved on their bronze medal from the 2022 Chennai Olympiad, which was their first.
India’s chess players have made their country proud, and their outstanding performance will be remembered for years to come.
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