India's chess teams have made history by winning twin gold medals at the Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, marking an extraordinary achievement in the realm of mind sports. The Indian men's team, seeded second, displayed remarkable dominance throughout the tournament, finishing with four points ahead of the nearest competitors, the United States. Meanwhile, the women's team, despite facing challenges towards the end, managed to secure their gold as first seeds.
This remarkable success can be attributed to a group of young talents, often referred to as the golden generation of Indian chess. Among the standout performers were D. Gukesh, who clinched individual gold on the top board, and Arjun Erigaisi, who excelled on the third board. Both players, along with Divya Deshmukh and Vantika Agrawal, also earned individual golds, showcasing the depth of talent within the Indian contingent.
Notably, the absence of renowned player Koneru Humpy from the women's team highlights the need for further development in women's chess in India. While the men's game boasts a plethora of emerging talents, the women's sector lacks similar depth. There is an urgent call for Indian chess administration to leverage this success to promote the sport among girls and to organize elite tournaments that can attract top players to compete domestically.