The Indian chess team celebrated their remarkable achievement at the Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, where both the men’s and women’s teams clinched gold medals on September 22. Euphoria erupted on the podium as the players proudly held the national tricolor.
In a delightful nod to sportsmanship, Tania Sachdev and D. Gukesh recreated Lionel Messi’s iconic walk celebration from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This moment echoed Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma’s similar celebrations after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 victory earlier this year.
Gukesh made headlines by securing his second individual gold medal, guiding India to its first-ever Olympiad win in the men’s division. Remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament, he achieved 9 wins and a draw from 10 matches on the top board. Additionally, Arjun Erigaisi shone on Board 3, winning 10 out of 11 matches, contributing to India’s historic score of 21 out of 22 possible points.
Celebration Time: Indian Chess Players Channel Rohit Sharma’s Style After Gold Medals
Following the men’s victory, the women’s team, featuring Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, Tania Sachdev, and Abhijit Kunte, secured gold by defeating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5 in the final round. Harika, Divya, and Vantika claimed victories while Vaishali drew her match.
India’s triumph in the women’s section hinged on the USA’s performance against Kazakhstan. When the USA held Kazakhstan to a 2-2 draw, India was crowned champions, ensuring a historic double gold for the country at the Chess Olympiad. The celebrations marked not just a win, but a defining moment in Indian chess history.
