Indian Teams Poised for Success at 45th Chess Olympiad Amid Depleted Field

The 45th Chess Olympiad sees a strong Indian women's team, led by D Harika and R Vaishali, poised for success despite the absence of Koneru Humpy. The men's team is also hopeful, bolstered by young talents like D Gukesh. Global heavyweights like China field less competitive teams this year.

The 45th Chess Olympiad kicks off on Wednesday, with the top-seeded Indian women's team, led by D Harika and R Vaishali, emerging as a strong contender for podium finishes. Despite Koneru Humpy's absence, the Indian team remains formidable, with Vaishali significantly rising in rankings.

China has notably fielded a depleted team. The latest FIDE ranking reveals the absence of China's top four players, which could benefit India's mixed youth and experience lineup. Georgia and Poland follow as second and third seeds respectively.

In the open section, the U.S. team is the favorite, even without Hikaru Nakamura. India's young team, featuring talents like Vidit Gujrathi and D Gukesh, is seeded second and aims to surpass its previous bronze-winning performance.

(With inputs from agencies.)