Indian women's team players relieved to win Chess Olympiad gold

International Master Tania Sachdev is proud and overwhelmed as the Indian women's team won the gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest on Sunday.

The Indian team of Sachdev, D Harika, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh and Vanita Agarwal coached by Abhijit Kunte defeated Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5 in the 11th and final round.

"I am so overwhelmed right now. I am so proud of my team, everything that we have done in the open (category and) in the women now when I look back, I think this is the moment that we were meant for this," Sachdev told chess.com.

This was the Indian women's team's maiden gold medal after they won the bronze medal in 2022.

Meanwhile, grandmaster Vaishali, another key member of the historic triumph, recalled her experience of the last edition.

"I still remember last time, we lost in the last round. Honestly, I could not sleep last night, thinking about those things, but I am very happy that we played as a team," said Vaishali.

Sachdev said she was happy that India finally won the gold medal.

"I think last time it did not happen like Vaishali said it was a very, very difficult. It was hard to celebrate the bronze last time and I am just so happy right now," she said.

D Harika, the most experienced member of the Indian women's team, said her dream to win the Olympiad finally came true after 20 years.

"I came into Olympiads as a 13-year-old, 20 years back, with a dream to win an Olympiad medal, and finally, it might happen today!" Harika said after winning her game in the final round.

The Indian women's team, tied with Kazakhstan with 17 after the end of the 10th round, won the gold medal as Kazakhstan was held in a draw by the USA in the final round.

"It has been a rollercoaster ride for me during this tournament and I am glad (that) in crucial games the girls picked up and finally we all came as a team and we won the last game, so that means a lot." "We played all the strongest teams here and I think we deserve it," Harika added.

While Divya Deshmukh said that the team would head over for lunch after their win, IM and GM Vantika Agrawal expressed relief at getting over the line.

"I am just feeling so happy and relieved. Last two days, I was so stressed like what's going to happen, but knowing that we have won this match with high score, (I am) feeling really happy," she Agarwal.