Indian Chess Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa Hails India’s Historic Double Gold Medal Win at Chess Olympiad 2024
Indian Chess grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has lauded India’s historic double gold medal win at the Chess Olympiad 2024, stating that the victory will help in popularizing the game further.
The momentous occasion took place on September 22, 2024, as the Indian Chess team made history by securing maiden gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories at the 45th Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary. The teams emerged victorious after defeating their opponents in the final round.
Praggnanandhaa expressed his excitement over India’s simultaneous triumph in both categories for the first time, emphasizing the significance of this achievement in expanding the reach of Chess. “Both the men’s and women’s teams won the gold medal. This is a very historic achievement, and we are winning for the first time. This is a very proud moment for all of us. I think this win will take chess to more people,” he remarked.
Members of the Indian Men’s team, including Gukesh Dommaraju, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanadhaa, secured victory against Slovakia in the final round. Meanwhile, the women’s team comprising Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and Tania Sachdev clinched gold by defeating Azerbaijan.
Reflecting on the journey to the gold medal, Praggnanandhaa highlighted the team’s improved experience and performance compared to the previous Olympiad. He credited the team’s success to playing their best and leveraging their experience effectively.
Men’s team captain Srinath described the victory as a “smooth” journey, underscoring the team’s impressive record of winning 10 matches and drawing one. He emphasized the historic nature of India’s gold medal win at the Olympiad and commended the team’s collective effort in achieving this milestone.
The triumph at the Chess Olympiad 2024 has not only brought glory to India but also raised hopes for the game’s increased popularity and recognition on a global scale.