• last year
International Master Vantika Agrawal discusses India's double gold victory at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest and its significant impact on the country's chess ecosystem. She highlights how this achievement will inspire the next generation of players, boost the popularity of chess, and strengthen India's position in the global chess community.

#VantikaAgrawal #ChessOlympiad #IndiaShines #DoubleGoldVictory #HistoricWin #TeamIndia

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00:00It just feels amazing. When I was at home and we were going, that time only I had decided that this time I am not coming back without the match.
00:08And when we made it happen, I was just leading on top of the world.
00:12I think the most challenging matches for us was round 7-8-9 against Georgia.
00:18We were playing in round 7. We were 4 times Olympiad champion.
00:22And I am happy that we could handle the pressure well and I won the game against Bela that time.
00:28And against Poland, we played well but we unfortunately lost that game.
00:33And I think that was challenging of course to come back after that.
00:37And in USA, USA's match by win against Russia was really important.
00:43And because we suffered a loss on one of the boards and I had to win too so that we could level the scores.
00:49And I am glad that we could level the score and win that game too.
00:53So it has been really inspiring and motivating.
00:56I am also part of Akash's academy, Anil's academy.
00:59So there we get a lot of online coaching from top grandmasters.
01:04In fact, some of them are also Vishy Anil's seconds.
01:07And also he is motivating us. So whenever I win something, he messages me to boost my confidence.
01:13This victory means a lot for us. We are getting so much of recognition.
01:17And I am sure that there are many more youngsters coming up.
01:20And I am sure that we will win many more medals for India and keep winning.
01:24And there will be more people taking up chess in India.
01:28And of course, India will create more and more people to take up and win medals.
01:32It can be India as well.
01:34It was just an amazing experience.
01:36And when I met Uzi, he is such a charismatic person and he remembers everything about everyone.
01:43When he met me for the first time, he said that your birthday is coming up in 3 days on 28th September.
01:48And I was like, it was just mind-blowing.
01:50And also for me, it was a very special moment because I met him last year when I was 9 years old.
01:56And that time I had become Asian champion. I won double gold.
02:00And he was organizing an event in Gujarat.
02:03So he invited me also. That time Anil sir had become 5 times world champion.
02:08So even I was invited and he honored me.
02:11And to meet him after 12 years.
02:13And I even presented that photo when I was 9 years old.
02:18And he was really happy to see that.
02:20It was just amazing.
02:22He encouraged all of us.
02:24There were personal talks about chess.
02:26There were fun talks.
02:28There was everything.
02:29And so much to learn about it.
02:31We can already see so much of support.
02:33Prime Minister sir is meeting us.
02:36He was in USA.
02:37We came and the next day itself he was ready to meet us.
02:40He called us and we were so privileged and honored.
02:42And even the sports minister, they were ready to meet us and give us cash award.
02:47And like he said in the movie, the sports minister himself said that
02:51earlier we had to apply for these awards and it would take so much time.
02:55But now they are themselves, we are getting the cash award as and when we are ready.

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