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Pakistani Team posing with the Chess Olympiad 2024 winner Team India (PC: X/@ChessbaseIndia)

Xtra Time Web Desk: In a rare and touching display of sportsmanship, the Pakistani chess team chose to hoist the Indian flag during the post-tournament celebrations at the 45th International Chess Federation (FIDE) Chess Olympiad in Budapest. India had just made history by winning gold in both the Open and Women’s team events, and in a moment captured on video, the Pakistani players joined in the celebration, holding the Indian flag instead of their own.

The video of this gesture quickly went viral on social media, with popular chess platform ChessBase India sharing it on X with the caption, “Pakistani Chess Team with the Champions of Chess Olympiad 2024 – Team India!” The scene has been widely praised as a beautiful symbol of camaraderie between the two neighbouring countries.

Watch here:

Pakistani Chess Team with the Champions of Chess Olympiad 2024 - Team India!#chess #chessbaseindia #ChessOlympiad2024 #india pic.twitter.com/LHEveDvEOt

— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) September 26, 2024

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India’s Dominance at the 2024 Chess Olympiad

India’s triumph at the 45th Chess Olympiad marked a significant moment in chess history, as they claimed double gold in both the Open and Women’s categories. The International Chess Federation congratulated Team India in a post, acknowledging the country’s journey from producing grandmasters like Vishy Anand to dominating the global chess scene with young talents like Gukesh Dommaraju, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi.

Gukesh D, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi secured victory in the Open category, while Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev clinched gold for the women’s team. Gukesh, Erigaisi, Deshmukh, and Agrawal also won individual gold medals for their stellar performances.

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A Historic Achievement for India

FIDE celebrated India’s unprecedented achievement of winning gold in both sections, stating, “India made history yesterday, becoming only the third country ever to win both team golds at the same Olympiad!” This victory secures India a spot in the 2025 FIDE World Cup, a key qualifier for the 2026 World Chess Championship.

As India basks in the glory of its historic win, the heartwarming act of Pakistan’s chess team holding the Indian flag adds a meaningful and unifying chapter to the tournament’s legacy.