President Droupadi Murmu has lauded India's growing dominance in the world of chess, recognizing the transformative changes occurring within the nation's sporting arena. In a recent address, the President highlighted the remarkable achievements of India's young chess players, emphasizing the country's potential to solidify its position as a global sporting powerhouse.
The President specifically acknowledged D. Gukesh's historic triumph as the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18. This victory, she noted, has paved the way for a season of outstanding performances by other Indian chess prodigies. Players like R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and R. Vaishali have consistently delivered strong performances on the international stage, showcasing their resilience and skill under immense pressure.
President Murmu also acknowledged the increasing presence and success of women in sports, referring to them as the nation's pride. She highlighted the fact that the finalists in the FIDE Women's World Cup for chess championship included a 19-year-old girl, Divya Deshmukh, and a 38-year-old woman, Koneru Humpy, which underscored the sustained excellence of Indian women across generations. Divya Deshmukh's recent accomplishments include becoming the youngest winner of the Women's World Cup, defeating Koneru Humpy in the final, and a commanding performance at the 2025 Women's Speed Chess Championship where she defeated China's world No. 7, Lei Tingjie. In another achievement, Rohith Krishna S recently became India's 89th Grandmaster, further highlighting India's growing presence in the chess world.
India's dominance was further demonstrated at the 45th Chess Olympiad, where the nation secured gold medals in both the Open and Women's events. This marked India's first overall victory at the Chess Olympiad, a historic achievement after previously winning a bronze medal in the Women's event in 2022. The Open team set a new record by scoring 21 out of 22 possible match points, underscoring their dominant performance. The women's team also displayed excellent composure, securing a crucial victory in the final match against Azerbaijan.
The President's address also touched upon the National Sports Policy 2025, which envisions transformative changes to establish India as a global sporting powerhouse. The policy emphasizes accountability among administrators and aims to establish processes that ensure ethical practices, fair play, and healthy competition within the sports sector. It also proposes a revamped funding mechanism, including initiatives such as "Adopt an Athlete," "Adopt a District," "Adopt a Venue," "One Corporate-One Sport," and "One PSU-One State".
India's rise in chess is not a sudden phenomenon but the result of sustained effort and the emergence of a golden generation of young talents. With players like Praggnanandhaa ranked among the world's best and Gukesh Dommaraju recently crowned world champion, India is now a force to be reckoned with in the global chess arena. This new era of Indian chess is marked by the players' hard work, focus on continuous improvement, and mutual inspiration, solidifying India's position as a chess superpower.
