R Praggnanandhaa Expresses Gratitude for Support in Chess Career
R Praggnanandhaa, the Indian chess prodigy, recently expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support he has received throughout his chess career. In particular, he highlighted the support from the Adani Group over the past year, which has allowed him to intensify his training and focus on his goals. Praggnanandhaa mentioned a meeting with Gautam Adani earlier this year, where Mr. Adani encouraged him to set a goal for India.
In a recent statement, Praggnanandhaa said, “There are many people in the journey who have supported me starting with my parents. My current and previous trainers, my first sponsor, Ramco Group, and right now the Adani Group have been supporting me for the last year, to whom I’ve been truly grateful. I needed to train a lot, which was made possible by the Adani Group. I also met Gautam Adani at the start of the year, and he said that I should set a goal for India this year. I am truly grateful to Gautam Adani sir for his support.”
The support from the Adani Group has clearly had a positive impact on Praggnanandhaa’s career, as evidenced by his recent historic win at the 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Hungary. On September 22, the Indian men’s and women’s chess teams secured their first-ever gold medals in the Olympiad, marking a significant achievement for Indian chess.
Praggnanandhaa described the win as historic, noting that it is rare for a country to win gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories simultaneously. He believes that this achievement will help popularize chess among a wider audience in India and inspire more people to take up the game.
While this is the first time India has won gold at the Olympiad, it is worth mentioning that the men’s team had previously shared a medal with Russia during an online Olympiad held during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the women’s team had secured a bronze medal at the Chennai Olympiad in 2022 after defeating Russia.
Overall, Praggnanandhaa’s journey in chess, supported by the Adani Group and other sponsors, serves as an inspiration for aspiring chess players in India and around the world. His dedication and success on the chessboard continue to make headlines and showcase the immense talent present in the Indian chess community.