Indian Women’s Team Clinches Gold at Chess Olympiad in Budapest

The Indian women’s team faced some ups and downs at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, but ultimately emerged victorious, clinching a gold medal in a thrilling final round showdown with Kazakhstan.

After leading the standings for the women’s event in the early rounds, the Indian team suffered setbacks with a loss to Poland and a draw with Team USA. However, their fortunes turned when Kazakhstan was held to a draw by USA, allowing India to secure the gold by defeating Azerbaijan.

Despite missing their top-ranked player Koneru Humpy, the Indian team, led by Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev, with Abhijit Kunte as captain, showcased exceptional teamwork and determination.

18-year-old Divya Deshmukh shone brightly, securing an individual gold medal on board three with an impressive performance throughout the tournament. Vantika Agrawal also stood out on board four, remaining unbeaten and winning critical games for the team. Tania Sachdev provided a steady presence, delivering solid performances in the games she played.

Grandmaster RB Ramesh, a top coach in India, provided insights into the players’ styles and personalities. Harika Dronavalli’s solid and experienced play, Vaishali’s aggressive style, Divya’s aggressive and risk-taking approach, Vantika’s critical wins, and Tania’s consistent performances were highlighted by Ramesh.

The Indian women’s team’s journey to gold at the Chess Olympiad was a testament to their skill, resilience, and teamwork, showcasing the depth of talent in Indian chess.