Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised Indian chess star Divya Deshmukh for her remarkable victory over World No. 1 Hou Yifan in the second leg of the Blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships in London, calling her performance an inspiration for young athletes across India.
In a post on X, PM Modi wrote,“Congratulations to Divya Deshmukh on defeating the World No. 1, Hou Yifan in the 2nd leg of Blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships, London. Her success highlights her grit and determination. It also inspires many upcoming chess players. Best wishes for her future endeavours.”
Divya’s victory over the top-seeded Chinese grandmaster came earlier this week and created ripples across the global chess community. Representing Hexamind Chess Club, Divya bounced back after losing the first leg to Yifan—who was playing for WR Chess Team—and stunned her opponent in the second leg by using sharp tactics and clock control with the white pieces.
Though the match was played two days ago, Modi’s acknowledgment on Thursday brought national attention to the young Nagpur player’s achievement.
Divya’s win has sparked renewed enthusiasm in India’s fast-growing chess scene, especially among young women players. Her triumph follows India’s ongoing success in global chess tournaments and builds on recent high-profile matchups such as Gukesh’s world championship run and the ever-rising presence of Indian talent on international boards.
The World Team Blitz Championships concluded this week in London, but Divya’s win continues to be celebrated as a landmark moment for Indian chess.