In a landmark announcement, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) has declared a substantial prize fund of ₹3.2 crore for the Indian chess teams that triumphed at the 45th Chess Olympiad. This historic achievement, celebrated during a grand felicitation ceremony in New Delhi, marks a significant milestone in Indian chess history.
AICF’s reward for Chess Olympiad Winners
AICF President Nitin Narang made the announcement on September 25, 2024, highlighting the federation’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding the exceptional performances of the Indian chess teams. The prize money is set to be distributed among the players, coaches, and supporting staff who contributed to this remarkable success.
Distribution of Prize Money
The prize distribution is as follows:
- Players: Each player from the winning teams will receive ₹25 lakh.
- Coaches: The coaches of the men’s and women’s teams, Abhijeet Kunte and Srinath Narayanan, will be rewarded with ₹15 lakh each.
- Head of Delegation: Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua, head of the Indian delegation, will receive ₹10 lakh.
- Assistant Coaches: The assistant coaches will be rewarded ₹7.5 lakh each.
🚨 AICF announces total cash rewards of ₹3.2 crores to Chess Olympiad winning team 🇮🇳
– ₹25 lakh for each player
– ₹15 lakh for each captain and coach
– ₹10 lakh for the Head of Delegation
– ₹7.5 lakh each for assistant coaches pic.twitter.com/zspq6QIfWp— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) September 26, 2024
Historic Achievement
India’s performance at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest was nothing short of spectacular. Both the men’s and women’s teams clinched their maiden gold medals, a feat that has brought immense pride to the nation. The men’s team, featuring stars like D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa, dominated the competition, defeating Slovenia in the final round. Gukesh, the standout performer, won 10 out of 11 rounds, propelling India to the top with 21 out of a possible 22 points.
The women’s team, led by D Harika, Tania Sachdev, and R Vaishali, secured their gold by defeating Azerbaijan in a tense final
AICF Secretary General Dev A Patel spoke about the resounding win, stating that the historic twin gold medals would help ignite a chess revolution in the country. “In 97 years of Chess Olympiad, we won gold in both categories. It’s a historic achievement,” Patel said. “This will give a new spark to chess enthusiasts. We will look to use this momentum to encourage the next generation of chess players.”
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