Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Team India makes history winning double gold at Chess Olympiad

The men's team defeated Slovenia, while the women’s team claimed the title with a 3.5-0.5 victory against Azerbaijan.

India joins China and the former Soviet Union as the only countries to win both men’s and women’s gold medals in the same edition of the Chess Olympiad. (Photo: X/@FIDE_chess)
India joins China and the former Soviet Union as the only countries to win both men’s and women’s gold medals in the same edition of the Chess Olympiad. (Photo: X/@FIDE_chess)

INDIA made history on Sunday as both its men's and women's teams secured their first-ever gold medals at the 45th Chess Olympiad.

The men's team defeated Slovenia, with D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanadhaa winning their matches in the final round.


The women’s team achieved a 3.5-0.5 victory against Azerbaijan to claim the title.

Previously, the Indian men's team had won bronze medals in 2014 and 2022, while the women's team secured a bronze in the 2022 edition held in Chennai.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated the teams on Monday, stating that the achievement opens a new chapter in India's sports journey. “Historic win for India as our chess contingent wins the 45th #FIDE Chess Olympiad! India has won the gold in both open and women’s category at Chess Olympiad!” Modi said on X.

Historic win for India as our chess contingent wins the 45th #FIDE Chess Olympiad! India has won the Gold in both open and women’s category at Chess Olympiad! Congratulations to our incredible Men's and Women's Chess Teams. This remarkable achievement marks a new chapter in… pic.twitter.com/FUYHfK2Jtu

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 22, 2024

The Indian men’s team defeated Slovenia with a 3.5-0.5 score, while the women overcame Azerbaijan with an identical scoreline in the final round of the event held in Budapest.

India joins China and the former Soviet Union as the only countries to win both men’s and women’s gold medals in the same edition of the Chess Olympiad.

For 18-year-old D Gukesh, who will soon face Ding Liren of China in the world championship, the gold was a significant milestone. "I am just super happy right now," said Gukesh, who scored nine points from ten games, helping the team win 21 out of a possible 22 points.

🎥 The moment 🇮🇳 India receives the Gaprindashvili Cup!

India takes home all 3 trophies in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad:

🏆 the Hamilton-Russell Cup, for winning the #ChessOlympiad

🏆 the Vera Menchik Cup for winning the Women's Olympiad

🏆 the Gaprindashvili Cup, a special… pic.twitter.com/b6X3u1GW7j

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) September 23, 2024

Arjun Erigaisi also played a pivotal role, scoring 10 points from all 11 games. "It's a nice feeling, but I don't want to care too much about being number three or number four," he said about his ranking in the live world rankings.

R Praggnanandhaa anchored the team until the ninth game, providing stability. Although he lost to Wesley So of the US, he finished the tournament with a win in the final round.

The Indian women’s team, consisting of Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev, defeated Kazakhstan and the USA to secure gold.

Viswanathan Anand, who has mentored several players, expressed his pride in their achievement. “It feels like a magical time for India. With such players, you know you’ll get results,” he said.

The men's and women's teams had both won bronze at the previous Olympiad in Chennai, and this time they fulfilled the expectations placed on them.

(With inputs from PTI)

More For You

uk-railways-iStock

The package includes £415 million to upgrade the rail line between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York, a route affected by delays and disruptions. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Government announces £1.7 bn transport investment for the North

THE GOVERNMENT has announced a £1.7 billion investment to improve transport infrastructure across the North, focusing on buses, roads, and rail.

The funding aims to upgrade key routes and improve connectivity across the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
 20 Years of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ – A TV Legacy That Lives On

20 years of love, loss, and unforgettable moments—Grey’s Anatomy continues to define TV drama

Pinterest

20 years of 'Grey’s Anatomy': The show that became a lifeline

For someone who has always craved fast-paced crime shows, I never thought I’d care about a hospital drama. The scrubs, the medical jargon, the beeping monitors, it all felt distant, clinical. But life breaks you open when you least expect it. I started Grey’s Anatomy on a night when my own grief was too loud. I needed noise to fill the silence. Then Meredith Grey’s voice cut through:

“So, do it. Decide.
Is this the life you want to live?
Is this the person you want to love?
Is this the best you can be?
Can you be stronger? Kinder?
More compassionate? Decide.

Keep ReadingShow less
IPL 2025 – GT vs MI: Who Will Secure Their First Win

Both teams eager to secure their maiden win of IPL 2025

Getty

IPL 2025 - GT vs MI: Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians aim for first win

The ninth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 will take place on March 29 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, featuring a highly anticipated clash between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI). Both teams will be keen to register their first win of the season after disappointing starts in their respective opening matches. This game is expected to be a closely fought contest, with each side eager to make an early impact in the tournament.

Gujarat Titans: Seeking redemption after high-scoring defeat

Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, began their IPL 2025 campaign with a high-scoring encounter against the Punjab Kings, but unfortunately ended up on the losing side. Despite some positive individual performances, the team was unable to secure a victory, and they will be keen to turn things around against MI.

Keep ReadingShow less
Why Do Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Different Days? 3 Key Reasons

Some may celebrate on one day, while others may observe it the next

iStock

3 reasons why Muslims across the globe celebrate Eid al-Fitr on different days

Eid is one of the most joyous and important festivals in Islam, celebrated twice a year by Muslims worldwide. However, it’s common to see variations in the exact day of celebration, even within the same country. Some may celebrate on one day, while others may observe it the next. This divergence can sometimes confuse people outside the Muslim community and even among Muslims themselves. But the reasons for this variation are rooted in Islamic traditions and differing interpretations of how to determine the Islamic calendar.

Here are the three main reasons why Muslims don’t always celebrate Eid on the same day:

Keep ReadingShow less
Keir-Starmer-Getty

Keir Starmer’s communications chief has resigned after nine months in Downing Street. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Starmer’s communications chief Matthew Doyle resigns after nine months

KEIR STARMER’s communications chief, Matthew Doyle, has resigned after nine months in Downing Street. Doyle, a Labour veteran who previously worked for Tony Blair, joined Starmer’s team as communications director four years ago when the party was in opposition.

His departure follows that of Sue Gray, Starmer’s former chief of staff, who left in the autumn. Doyle’s exit is expected to lead to the promotions of James Lyons to director of communications (strategy) and Steph Driver to director of communications (delivery), according to the BBC.

Keep ReadingShow less