Indian Chess Olympiads Gold Medallists Meet PM Modi: Inspiration and Evolution of Chess

Indian Chess Olympiad gold medallists met Prime Minister Modi, sharing stories of motivation and technological evolution. For Vantika Agrawal, it was a special occasion, having been inspired by Modi since childhood. Players discussed the increasing popularity of chess and how AI is revolutionizing the game.

On Wednesday, India's Chess Olympiad gold medallists had a momentous meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For Woman Grandmaster Vantika Agrawal, the occasion was particularly special as Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, had previously motivated her by felicitating her when she won the Asian under-nine Championship Gold. Agrawal reflected on how this early encouragement fueled her passion and drive for the sport.

Sharing her experiences, Vantika said, "When you encouraged me, I felt really motivated and happy. I decided to give my everything to chess and win more medals for India." She was astonished to learn that the Prime Minister remembered her birthday on September 28. In a heartfelt gesture, she gifted Modi a picture of her earlier felicitation as a young champion.

PM Modi reminisced about hosting a massive chess event with 20,000 players during his days as Gujarat's Chief Minister, a decision initially met with skepticism. Harika Dronavalli, part of the women's gold medal-winning team, recounted the grand celebrations following their landmark victory and the heartfelt congratulations from their opponents. Teen chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujarathi highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in the evolving landscape of chess, noting how new technologies are introducing innovative strategies to the game.

Tania Sachdev also shared insights on the women's team's motivation following a previous loss to the USA during the Olympiad in Chennai. She emphasized how that defeat inspired them to strive harder and ultimately achieve their gold medal triumph.

(With inputs from agencies.)