Chess Olympiad 2024: Indian Team Take Inspiration From Rohit Sharma to Celebrate Trophy Lift - Watch

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The Indian men and women's historic gold-winning teams celebrated their Chess Olympiad triumph in unique style, imitating the trophy lift at the T20 World Cup 2024 by cricket skipper Rohit Sharma.

Rohit had emulated Argentine football maestro Lionel Messi during the post-match trophy celebration as the Men in Blue defeated South Africa to emerge victorious in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Barbados earlier this year.

Messi had unveiled a unique way of joining his teammates with the FIFA World Cup trophy after Argentina beat France in the 2022 title clash. Later in the 2024 T20 World Cup medal ceremony, the Indian skipper Rohit had copied the celebration.

And on Sunday (September 22), the history-making Indian Chess contingent also copied the celebration style as Gukesh D and Tania Sachdev brought their respective trophies in a near similar manner to celebrate with team on the podium.

India displayed a stupendous performance at the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, finishing with gold medals in both men's and women's events.

Going into the final round of the open (men's) tournament on top of the standings, Indian team of D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi and Pentala Harikrishna shined over Slovenia to clinch the gold medal.

It was the wins from D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi which gave India to a 2-0 lead and confirmed the gold medal. Later in the final round, Praggnandhaa also won his game and Vidit ended his bout with a draw. India defeated Slovenia 3.5-0.5 to seal the gold medal.

Meanwhile, the Indian women's chess team of Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and Tania Sachdev also won gold after beating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5.

Harika Dronavalli, Divya Deshmukh, and Vantika Agrawal won their respective matches in the final round. While, R Vaishali drew her match against Ulviyya Fataliyeva.