From Koneru Humpy to Divya Deshmukh; President hails India's dominance in Chess

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday praised India's growing dominance in global chess and remarked that the country is on the cusp of "transformative changes" in the sporting arena.

D Gukesh, who became the youngest world chess champion at just 18, set the tone for a remarkable season for India's rising chess stars. Players like R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and R Vaishali have since delivered consistently on the international stage under intense pressure.

19-year-old Divya Deshmukh added to the country's success by becoming the youngest winner of the Women's World Cup, defeating Koneru Humpy in the final.

"Brimming with a new confidence, our youth are making a mark in sports and games. Chess, for example, is now dominated by India's youngsters like never before. We foresee transformative changes which will establish India as a global sporting power-house under the vision contained in the National Sports Policy 2025," the president said in an address to the nation. 

The President also hailed the increasing presence of women in sports, calling them the country's pride. "Our daughters are our pride. They are breaching barriers in every field, including in the areas of defence and security. Sports are among the important indicators of excellence, empowerment and potential. A nineteen-year-old girl (Deshmukh) and a thirty-eight-year-old woman (Humpy) from India were the finalists in the FIDE Women’s World Cup for chess championship," she said.

The President further said that the National Sports Policy calls for accountability of administrators and establishment of processes to "ensure ethical practices, fair play and healthy competition in the sports sector." The policy proposes a revamped funding mechanism, including initiatives such as "Adopt an Athlete", "Adopt a District", "Adopt a Venue", "One Corporate-One Sport", and "One PSU-One State" wherever feasible.

After the policy's unveiling on July 1, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also tabled the long-awaited National Sports Governance Bill in Parliament. The landmark legislation, which ensures a strict regulatory framework for National Sports Federations, besides a speedy dispute resolution mechanism, has been passed by both houses of Parliament.

Mandaviya, who has described it as the single biggest sporting reform since independence, has vowed to ensure the implementation of its provisions within the next six months.