India's Golden Double: Historic Wins in Chess Olympiad

India made history in the Chess Olympiad, securing gold in both men's and women's categories. The men's team defeated Slovenia, while the women's team outclassed Azerbaijan. Led by young talents like D Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh, India demonstrated remarkable dominance, leaving past achievements in the shade.

India made history on Sunday by winning gold medals in both the men's and women's categories at the Chess Olympiad. The men's team overpowered Slovenia 3.5-0.5, while the women's team triumphed over Azerbaijan with the same margin in the 45th edition of the tournament.

The Indian men's team had previously secured two bronze medals in 2014 and 2022, with the women's team earning a bronze in the 2022 edition held in Chennai. Key players D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaise, and R Praggnanandhaa led the men's team to victory, while Dronavalli Harika and Divya Deshmukh shone for the women's team.

Chess legend Viswanathan Anand witnessed the event, celebrating the next generation's prowess. Gukesh stated, "I feel great, especially with the quality of my games and how we played as a team." The Indian teams' strategic plays clinched the final wins, marking a historic achievement for the nation on the global chess stage.

(With inputs from agencies.)