India Secures Silver and Bronze Medals at Chess Olympiad

India concluded its Chess Olympiad campaign with a double-podium finish, as the men’s team secured the silver medal in the Open section while the women’s team claimed bronze. Although the nation was unable to replicate its dual-title success from 2024, the squads maintained their status among the world's elite by finishing on the podium in both categories.

On the final day of competition, both Indian teams played out 2-2 draws in their respective matches. The men faced Hungary, while the women were held by Georgia. Despite these results, India distinguished itself as the only country to secure medals in both the Open and women’s divisions, further cementing its consistency by retaining the Gaprindashvili Trophy, awarded to the nation with the best combined performance.

The women’s team also demonstrated resilience in their final encounter against Georgia. Koneru Humpy delivered a crucial victory on the top board against Nana Dzagnidge. Although Divya Deshmukh was defeated by Bela Khotenashvili, draws from Vantika Agrawal and B. Savitha Shri secured the necessary points to confirm the bronze medal. The tournament saw China emerge as the women’s champions with 20 points, followed by Kazakhstan with 18.

Individual excellence was a hallmark of the campaign, with several players earning board medals. In the women’s section, B. Savitha Shri claimed gold on the reserve board, while Divya Deshmukh secured silver on the second board. Koneru Humpy and Vantika Agrawal added to the tally with bronze medals on the top and fourth boards, respectively. For the men, D. Gukesh earned silver on the fourth board, and R. Praggnanandhaa took home the bronze on the top board.