World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju expressed his gratitude on Thursday for being conferred with the prestigious Khel Ratna Award. The announcement was made on January 2 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports as part of the National Sports Awards 2024.
Speaking to reporters, Gukesh highlighted the honor of being the second chess player, after the legendary Viswanathan Anand, to receive the award.
“I am really grateful for the prestigious award, and it’s really special that I am the second chess player after Vishi Anand Sir (Viswanathan Anand) to be awarded the Khel Ratna,” Gukesh said.
The 18-year-old champion also expressed his aspirations for chess to become a part of the Olympics, emphasizing the growing popularity of the game.
“I would love to see Chess being part of the Olympics, especially if it’s in India. I think Chess has been getting a lot of popularity and a lot of support. The Olympics will take it to the next level. Really looking forward to it,” he added.
Gukesh’s stellar performance in 2024 was a highlight of Indian sports. In December, he made history by defeating China’s Ding Liren in the decisive 14th game of the FIDE World Championship in Singapore. The match, tied at 6.5-6.5, ended with Gukesh clinching a 7.5-6.5 victory, making him the youngest world champion at just 18 years old and India’s second world chess champion after Anand.
Koneru Humpy Secures Second World Rapid Title
Indian chess grandmaster Koneru Humpy also celebrated a major milestone by winning her second FIDE Women’s World Rapid Championship title.
“I am very happy to win the second World Rapid title, and it’s very special for me because the first one came in 2019 after a break from my chess career. As a mother, I feel it’s a proud moment for every woman, and I think this victory will inspire a lot of young girls to take up Chess as a profession,” Humpy said.
Humpy secured the championship by scoring 8.5/11, defeating Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar in the final round. This victory makes her the second player to win multiple women’s world rapid titles, following China’s Ju Wenjun.
She also expressed her gratitude to the Indian government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the All India Chess Federation for their support and encouragement.