On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Indian men’s and women’s chess teams to his residence, celebrating their historic achievement at the 45th Chess Olympiad. Both teams made history by winning gold medals for the first time in this prestigious event, marking a significant milestone for Indian chess.
The men’s team, consisting of D Gukesh, R Praggnanandha, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and P Harikrishna, performed exceptionally well, finishing with 21 out of 22 possible points. The women’s team, led by Abhijit Kunte and featuring players like R Vaishali and Tania Sachdev, also excelled with 19 points. This remarkable performance saw both teams triumph over strong competitors, including Slovenia for the men and Azerbaijan for the women in their final matches.
During the meeting, players shared their experiences from the tournament. D Gukesh highlighted the importance of teamwork in their success, reflecting on a previous Olympiad where he felt he could have secured victory but fell short. Tania Sachdev recounted their convincing win against the USA, a team that had previously defeated them. Harika Dronavalli noted the supportive atmosphere among competitors, emphasizing the camaraderie in chess.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his admiration for the players and discussed the future of sports in India. He showed particular interest in how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming chess. Players like Praggnanandha and Vidit Gujarati explained that AI has made chess more accessible to everyone, allowing players to enhance their skills by practicing against advanced computer programs.
Modi remarked on the broader significance of sports for national development, stating that success in various fields—including sports—contributes to a country’s greatness. He mentioned that just as India aspires to win Oscars in films or Nobel Prizes in science, achieving more gold medals in sports would elevate India’s status globally.
During the interaction, Vantika Agarwal received birthday wishes from Modi, which surprised her. She recalled how he honored her at a young age during a junior competition, highlighting his ongoing support for young athletes.
The meeting between PM Modi and the chess teams not only celebrated their achievements but also underscored India’s growing prominence in international sports. With continued support and advancements like AI in training, the future looks bright for Indian chess on the global stage.