The 2024 Chess Olympiad will go down in history as a golden moment for Indian chess. Both the men’s and women’s teams claimed gold in what can only be described as a monumental achievement for the nation. Amid the celebration at a felicitation ceremony hosted by the All India Chess Federation (AICF), Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu offered a glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster that led to India’s triumph.
It’s still sinking in
For Vaishali, the weight of the victory hasn’t fully settled yet.
“Yes, it is, slowly,” she said, almost as though she were still processing the magnitude of the moment.
“I’m proud to be part of a historic gold-winning team. The men’s team clearly dominated, and we, the women’s team, had a setback in the middle of the tournament. But I’m very happy to have played as a team.”
Her choice of words when referring to team successes paints a picture of humility. Even as she stands among India’s Olympiad champions, Vaishali continues to highlight the collective effort. But when things didn’t go well, she took it upon herself to bear the responsibility.
Owning the losses, sharing the wins
As Vaishali reflected on the tournament, a subtle but significant pattern emerged in her words.
“We won the first seven matches in a row,” she said, her voice filled with pride. But the tone shifted when she recalled the team’s first loss, a hard-fought match against Poland in the 8th round.
“I lost my game.”
The weight of that simple sentence is immense. In a tournament where every game counts, a personal loss feels magnified, not just for the player but for the entire team.
“It was not easy,” Vaishali admitted. “When you lose a game in a team event, the entire team gets affected. You’re playing for your country, and it’s not easy to deal with.”
Despite the setback, Vaishali’s focus never wavered. And it’s in moments like these where her strength of character shines. When the team won, she used “we”. When she lost, she said “I”. This mentality of taking responsibility for losses but sharing the credit for wins speaks volumes about her maturity as both a player and a person.
Lessons from the past: The pain of near-miss bronze in 2022
The road to gold in 2024 was not without its scars. India had come agonisingly close two years ago at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai. The women’s team had been on the cusp of victory but fell short, walking away with bronze, a historic achievement, yet a bittersweet one.
“Two years ago, we won bronze, and that experience helped us deal with the pressure this time,” Vaishali said. “We were so close to winning gold in 2022. We lost the last match, and even though it was a historic bronze, we couldn’t really celebrate. We were heartbroken.”
That heartbreak, however, became the fuel for their determination in 2024. Vaishali and her teammates carried the weight of that near-miss with them to every board they sat across in this Olympiad. It was more than just a game now, it was redemption.
Walking through fire: Dealing with personal challenges
Vaishali’s journey through the 2024 Olympiad wasn’t smooth. After winning seven consecutive matches, the team stumbled in the 8th round. For Vaishali, that match against Poland was especially painful. She lost, and the team’s momentum faltered.
The following round wasn’t any easier. Vaishali found herself in yet another difficult game in the 9th round, one that could have swung either way. But this time, she didn’t let the pressure break her.
“We managed to draw the match,” she said, breathing a sigh of relief. That draw was enough to keep India in the fight for gold.
The moments that followed were critical. With two rounds remaining, the pressure on the Indian women’s team was immense, and they could feel the weight of expectation from millions back home. But what kept them grounded was each other.
“At one point, we slipped out of the lead,” Vaishali recalled. “The last two rounds were really crucial. I thank the coaches and captains for helping us get out of that mental block. We were all determined to win gold, and we motivated each other.”
It was this sense of camaraderie, of shared purpose, that ultimately carried the women’s team across the finish line. While Vaishali may have felt the sting of personal setbacks, she knew she wasn’t alone. The team believed in each other, and that belief saw them through the toughest moments.
Vaishali’s words carry a lesson: that in moments of failure, it’s okay to take it personally. But in moments of triumph, we are never alone. India’s gold is more than just a medal, it’s the culmination of years of heartbreak, hope, and the strength that comes from standing side by side with teammates.