The All-India Chess Federation (AICF) announced Rs. 3.2 crore in prizes for India’s Olympiad winning chess teams. On Wednesday, it was revealed by AICF president Nitin Narang during a ceremony. It is decided that each team member will be rewarded with Rs. 25 lakhs. The men’s coach Abhijeet Kunte and women’s coach Srinath Narayanan will be rewarded with Rs. 15 lakhs each. Indian delegation head, Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, will get Rs. 10 lakhs. Assistant coaches will receive Rs. 7.5 lakhs each.
AICF president Nitin Narang, while expressing good wishes, said,
“The hunger for gold ended in Hungary, but the desire for success continues. In the open section we dominated, and in the women’s section we owned it.”
AICF secretary general Dev A Patel said,
“Our players are sharp shooters on the chessboard. The seeds planted by Vishwanathan Anand have grown into a forest.” He further added, “In 97 years of Chess Olympiad, we won gold in both categories. It’s a historic achievement. This will give a new spark to chess enthusiasts. We will look to use this momentum to encourage the next generation of chess players.”
India Created History At The 45th Chess Olympiad
India creates history by winning their first-ever gold medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Both the men’s and women’s teams played brilliantly throughout the tournament.
Men’s Team
The men’s team, including D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa, achieved this milestone. It’s a huge success for Indian chess. They also defeated Slovenia in the final round. Gukesh was the real star. He won 10 out of 11 rounds. India secured the top spot with 21 points out of 22.
GM Gukesh said in an interview that,
“The whole team was really motivated to win the gold this time around after the disappointment of the Chess Olympiad in Chennai in 2022. We have shown that India is not just a strong country anymore but a superpower in chess. Especially the women’s team, the grit that they have shown throughout the tournament is truly commendable.”
Women’s Team
The women’s team, including D Harika, Tania Sachdev, and R Vaishali, took the lead. They also won gold with fantastic performances. They won the title by beating Azerbaijan in a very close final match.
In an interview, GM Harika said,
“This is a first for a lot of us chess players, and it is a good start to build a future for the younger generations. It was a beautiful surprise for us. But it is more than just a cash incentive; it’s a hope that will help take us to more victories.”
Message From PM Narendra Modi
Earlier, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, personally congratulated the champions. He praised their dedication to their sport and the impact on Indian sports.
PM Modi said on platform ‘X’,
“Historic win for India as our chess contingent triumphs at the 45th #FIDE Chess Olympiad! India has won the gold in both the open and women’s categories. Congratulations to our incredible men’s and women’s chess teams. This remarkable achievement marks a new chapter in India’s sports trajectory. May this success inspire generations of chess enthusiasts to excel in the game.”
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