Chennai’s 19-year-old Savitha Shri Baskar didn’t just win the individual gold medal at the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand; she became India’s lifeline when the team was on the brink of heartbreak. Her games routinely stretched into the final moves, turning her board into a high-wire act that the rest of the squad watched with bated breath. She was the only Indian to take home individual gold across both open and women’s sections, a feat that cements her status as the nation’s new chess star.
Behind the scenes, the campaign was a logistical nightmare that nearly derailed the team before the first move was made. Players couldn’t find common times for in-person training due to busy schedules, forcing the All India Chess Federation (AICF) to pivot to virtual camps. Once in Uzbekistan, accommodation and food issues flared up on day one. AICF President Nitin Narang and HOD Abhijit Kunte stepped in, ensuring players had rooms and access to Indian food to maintain their energy levels. Without that intervention, the focus might have fractured completely.
Captain Swayams Mishra, making his first full captaincy appearance, admitted the role was less about tactics and more about survival. He spent hours in the tournament hall, not analyzing boards, but managing human needs. "If we wanted something, he was always there, giving us everything, like water, bananas, and for me, he was bringing endless coffees," Savitha recalled. Mishra described the helplessness of watching a player make a mistake and having no way to intervene, only waiting for the game to unfold naturally while ensuring his team was fueled and focused.
The toughest part of the job? The bench. Mishra had to choose four players from a five-member squad each round. Vaishali, the Women’s World Championship challenger, struggled with form, finishing with a score of 2.5/6. Mishra kept her on the board for only six of the eleven games, a controversial call that prioritized team points over individual pride. "Vaishali tried, gave her best, but it just wasn't meant to be," Mishra said, sighing at the difficulty of the decision. He emphasized that Vaishali remained mentally strong and focused on her title challenge next year, not letting the Olympiad slump define her career.
India’s bronze medal was hard-earned, built on Savitha’s clutch performances and the team’s ability to navigate chaos. The next challenge is clear: Vaishali must bounce back for the Women’s World Championship title fight, while Savitha looks to turn her Olympiad heroics into a sustained run on the global stage.