India declares strong squads to defend Chess Olympiad gold

India has selected a powerful squad for the 2026 Chess Olympiad running from September 15 to 27 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. World champion D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi headline the Open section roster alongside Nihal Sarin and Vidit Gujrathi. Srinath Narayanan will proudly captain this men's lineup. For the Women’s section, stalwarts Koneru Humpy, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Divya Deshmukh lead the aggressive charge with Vantika Agrawal and Savitha Shri B.

Local Pride for Odisha

Odisha celebrates a very special connection to this international campaign. Cuttack-born Grandmaster Swayams Mishra steps up to coach and captain the Indian women's chess team at this global tournament. His strategic leadership will carefully guide the talented female squad as they aim for back-to-back tournament victories.

Battling Form and Chasing Glory

Fans are watching Gukesh closely following his recent struggles over the board. He dropped 75 rating points over 19 months and struggled heavily at the Chennai Grand Masters. Grandmaster Srinath Narayanan noted that confidence directly dictates Gukesh’s performance. When he feels secure, his calculations are brilliant, but sudden dips in morale visibly affect his board play.

Conversely, Praggnanandhaa carries excellent winning momentum into Samarkand. He recently won the Norway Chess tournament in June by defeating top players like Magnus Carlsen and Alireza Firouzja. His sharp form offers a highly reliable anchor for the national team.

Defending Historic Gold Medals

Both Indian sides travel to Uzbekistan as defending world champions. During the 45th Olympiad in Budapest in 2024, the nation made sporting history by sweeping gold in both sections. The men's squad secured their maiden gold medal after a dominant final round. Shortly after, the women's team achieved a similar feat by crushing Azerbaijan. India hopes to repeat this phenomenal double success and reinforce their status as a global chess superpower.