December 23, 2024: Indian Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Tania Sachdev has expressed her disappointment over the lack of recognition and support from the Delhi government for her achievements in chess. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Tania highlighted her contributions to Indian chess, particularly her role in the historic victories at the Chess Olympiad, but noted the absence of any formal acknowledgment from the Delhi government.
Tania, who has represented India since 2008, pointed out that despite her notable performances—winning a bronze medal with the women’s team in the 2022 Chess Olympiad and securing gold in the 2024 Chess Olympiad—there has been no recognition from the Delhi government for her achievements. She emphasized how states that celebrate and support their athletes inspire excellence and motivate young talent.
In response to Tania’s post, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi assured the grandmaster that the Delhi government has always supported athletes, particularly through initiatives in schools, and expressed a willingness to meet with her to discuss how they can better support chess players.
Atishi’s reply on X read:
“Hi Tania, we have always supported all our athletes, sportsmen and sportswomen, especially in our schools. Would love to meet you and understand what more can be done, especially for chess players. My office will reach out to you, and I am really looking forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions.”
This response from Atishi indicates a readiness to engage with Tania and other chess athletes to explore how the Delhi government can improve its support for the sport, which has grown in prominence in India in recent years.
The 2024 Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary, was a landmark event for India. Both the men’s and women’s teams won gold medals—the first-ever such achievement in the history of the Chess Olympiad.
India’s Men’s Team, comprising players like D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Pentala Harikrishna, defeated Slovenia in the final round to clinch the gold medal. Gukesh and Erigaisi won their respective games, giving India a commanding lead, and Praggnanandhaa also won his match, while Vidit drew his game.
India’s Women’s Team, including Tania Sachdev, Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agarwal, also achieved gold by defeating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5 in the final round. Harika, Divya, and Vantika won their individual games, and Vaishali drew her match, contributing to the team’s overall victory.
Despite these monumental achievements, the lack of state-level recognition for players like Tania Sachdev, who has been a key part of both the 2022 and 2024 successes, has raised concerns about the recognition of chess in Delhi. Tania’s plea for more support reflects the broader issue of athletes in non-mainstream sports needing more institutional backing and celebration of their successes.
As the conversation unfolds, it remains to be seen what concrete steps will be taken by the Delhi government to better support chess athletes and acknowledge their contributions.
