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Gukesh Advocates for Chess in the Olympics: ‘It Will Elevate the Sport to New Heights’

Indian chess prodigy and youngest-ever World Chess Champion, D. Gukesh, has voiced his aspiration to see chess included in the Olympic Games. Speaking at an All India Chess Federation (AICF) event in New Delhi, Gukesh expressed confidence that the inclusion of chess in the Olympics would significantly boost the sport’s global appeal.

Chess at the Olympics: A Dream for Gukesh

As India officially bids to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, Gukesh hopes the event could mark chess’s debut as an Olympic sport, particularly if held on home soil. “I would love to see chess being part of the Olympics, especially if it’s in India,” Gukesh remarked. “Chess has been gaining immense popularity and support lately, and the Olympics will take it to the next level. I’m really looking forward to this possibility.”

Although chess currently has its own prestigious Olympiad, where India clinched both men’s and women’s gold medals in 2024, it is yet to be recognized as an official Olympic sport.

Celebrating Milestones: AICF Felicitation

At the AICF event, Gukesh was honored with a ₹1 crore cash reward for his historic win at the 2024 World Chess Championship. The young grandmaster defeated China’s Ding Liren in Singapore, securing his title as the youngest world chess champion in history at just 18 years old.

Reflecting on his groundbreaking achievement, Gukesh shared, “We celebrated the victory, but now I’m focused on the next tournament. The attention chess has been getting is fantastic, and I hope it continues to grow.”

2025 Chess Campaign Begins

Gukesh is set to return to competitive action at the prestigious Tata Steel Masters 2025 in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. His opening match will see him face Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri on Saturday. “I’m excited to start my 2025 campaign. After a break of over a month, I’m ready for the challenges ahead and looking forward to an exciting year of tournaments,” he said.

A Historic Recognition

The young chess champion also received India’s highest sporting honor, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Gukesh joins the ranks of Viswanathan Anand as only the second chess player to be bestowed with this prestigious award.

The Road Ahead

As Gukesh embarks on his 2025 chess journey, his advocacy for chess’s inclusion in the Olympics reflects his vision for the sport’s future. With his stellar achievements and growing influence, Gukesh continues to inspire a new generation of chess enthusiasts while elevating India’s prominence on the global chess stage.

Whether or not chess becomes an Olympic sport, Gukesh’s remarkable journey underscores the evolving landscape of chess as a globally celebrated discipline.

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