India made history by becoming the third country to win gold in both the men's and women's team categories in the same edition of the Chess Olympiad, a feat previously achieved only by China and the Soviet Union. The Indian teams triumphed at the Chess Olympiad held in Budapest on Sunday, securing a landmark double gold victory.

In the men’s competition, India dominated Slovenia with a decisive 3.5-0.5 win in the final round. Meanwhile, the Indian women’s team mirrored this success, defeating Azerbaijan by the same margin to seal their victory. Both teams delivered a stunning performance, showcasing India's growing stature in the global chess arena.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the achievement as a "historic win." He posted on X, "India has won the Gold in both open and women’s category at Chess Olympiad! Congratulations to our incredible Men's and Women's Chess Teams." He further stated, "This remarkable achievement marks a new chapter in India's sports trajectory. May this success inspire generations of chess enthusiasts to excel in the game."

India's men's team had previously won two bronze medals in the Olympiad, in 2014 and 2022, while the women's team earned a bronze in 2022 when the tournament was held in Chennai. This time, they went a step further, clinching their first gold medals.

The young stars of the men’s team, including 18-year-old World Championship challenger D Gukesh, 21-year-old Arjun Erigaisi, and 19-year-old R Praggnanandhaa, were instrumental in securing victory. Gukesh and Erigaisi delivered key wins, while Praggnanandhaa regained form in the final round. Vidit Gujrati, 29, drew his game on the fourth board, rounding off the victory. Indian Men's team comprised of D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna.

"I feel great, especially with the quality of my games and how we played as a team," Gukesh said after India’s gold medal triumph.

For the women's team, D Harika, 33, showcased her experience and technical skill on the top board. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Divya Deshmukh outclassed her opponent, Givhar Beydullayeva, securing an individual gold medal on the third board. The triumphant Indian Women's team included Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal and Tania Sachdev.

Legendary chess player Viswanathan Anand, a five-time World Champion, was present to witness the next generation of Indian players take the global stage by storm.