India Clinches Maiden Gold at 45th Chess Olympiad

India made history by winning its first-ever gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad. Star players D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanadhaa led the men's team to victory over Slovenia, while the women's team also excelled, nearing a rare double gold for the country.

India made history on Sunday, winning its maiden gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad. The men's team, featuring outstanding performances from D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanadhaa, secured a crucial victory over Slovenia in the 11th and final round.

Gukesh and Erigaise were instrumental, with Gukesh's strategic prowess against Vladimir Fedoseev and Erigaise's win over Jan Subeli. Praggnanadhaa also shone, defeating Anton Demchenko to cap off India's 3-0 triumph with one game remaining, ending with 21 out of a possible 22 points.

The Indian women's team also performed exceptionally, defeating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5. D Harika and Divya Deshmukh were key figures, with Deshmukh securing individual gold. The team victory was sealed with Vantika Agrawal's win and R Vaishali's draw, marking a historic double gold opportunity for India.

(With inputs from agencies.)