Chess Olympiad Champions: Praggnanandhaa and Sister Vaishali Receive Warm Welcome in Chennai

By Subaashinee Kupusamy,

28 SEPTEMBER: India’s chess prodigies R Praggnanandhaa and his sister Vaishali, fresh from their historic victories at the 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Hungary, were greeted with enthusiasm by fans at the Chennai airport.

Both siblings played key roles in securing India’s first-ever gold medals at the Olympiad, with Praggnanandhaa as part of the men’s team and Vaishali representing the women’s team. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian chess, as it is rare for both the men’s and women’s teams from the same country to win gold in the same edition of the prestigious tournament.

“This is a proud moment for all of us. Winning both medals simultaneously is historic, and I believe it will help chess reach more people in India,” said Praggnanandhaa.The men’s team, featuring talents like D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna, triumphed alongside the women’s team of Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and Tania Sachdev.

Additionally, India clinched four individual golds, with Gukesh, Erigaisi, Deshmukh, and Agarwal excelling on their respective boards. This victory cements India’s growing dominance in the global chess arena, following their bronze win at the 2022 Chennai Olympiad as stated in India TV News.