India achieved a remarkable feat at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, winning gold medals in both the men's and women's competitions, showcasing exceptional talent and teamwork.
"Key Highlights:
1. Women’s team wins gold, beating Azerbaijan decisively.
2. Men’s team claims title after defeating Slovenia.
3. USA's draw secures victory for India in women’s section."
"India achieved a remarkable feat by winning gold medals in both the men's and women's competitions at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. After the men's team celebrated their historic win, the women's team—featuring Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, Tania Sachdev, and coach Abhijit Kunte—secured gold, marking an unprecedented double victory for India.
In the final match, India triumphed over Azerbaijan with a score of 3.5 to 0.5, maintaining their strong pursuit of the gold. Harika, Divya, and Vantika all won their matches, while Vaishali managed a draw. However, India's top position was not guaranteed until the USA drew with Kazakhstan, which allowed India to clinch the championship.
Earlier, Vantika Agrawal played a pivotal role by defeating Grandmaster Irina Krush, helping India achieve a crucial 2-2 draw against the USA in the ninth round. Despite resting the struggling Grandmaster D Harika, the team faced challenges; Vaishali lost to Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, and Divya drew with Carissa Yip. Tania, in a promising position, also settled for a draw against Alice Lee, leaving Vantika to equalize the score with her impressive victory.
In the final round of the open section, crucial wins from D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi propelled India to their first-ever Chess Olympiad title. They defeated Slovenia and surpassed China, who lost points against the USA. India had an impressive journey, starting with eight straight wins before a draw against Uzbekistan. Their victory over the top-seeded USA in the penultimate round effectively sealed their championship."
