Chess Olympiad — New kid on the block, Savitha Shri, steals spotlight after India women win bronze

B. Savitha Shri arrived to a warm welcome in Chennai after she helped India Women win bronze in the Olympiad. | Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj

It was all quiet at Terminal Four of the airport here, even a good 10 minutes before members of the Indian chess teams walked out. In a jiffy, there was a small crowd which included well-wishers and fans, all wanting a now-mandatory selfie with the players.

For a change, the spotlight wasn’t on R. Praggnanandhaa and R. Vaishali but on B. Savitha Shri, the new kid on the block, who dazzled with an unbeaten, gold-medal-winning run (nine points from 10 games) as the women’s team claimed bronze.

Savitha Shri in action at the Chess Olympiad 2026, where she thoroughly impressed, securing nine points of 10 games. | Photo Credit: FIDE

The 19-year-old Chennai WGM, picked as the reserve board player in her Olympiad debut, proved her worth in gold as she notched up one victory after the other. Her heroics proved invaluable, and a draw in the final round against Georgia helped the team climb the podium.

“The win against Elnaz Kaliakhmet was my best match,” she said of the performance against Kazakhstan. “If I hadn’t won, we would have lost that match.”

“It was an amazing performance. After I started with four wins, I thought I should carry on the good form and contribute to the team’s cause,” Savitha Shri said while thanking her teammates for their support and faith in her.