Nagpur welcomes Queen Divya Women’s Chess World Cup winner accorded warm and rousing welcome

 

 

 

SHE conquered. She came. And all were in awe! It is a rare phenomenon for a place like Nagpur that a home-grown player arrives as a World Champion. City’s very own, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh, an age barely fit for being a princess, landed at the International Airport, as a Queen. Yes, a Queen of the entire chess world! City showered love and blessings as she received a very warm and rousing welcome upon her arrival from hundreds of new-found fans, family members and friends. A grinning Divya came out of the airport wearing a floral tiara, befitting a young queen in company of MLC Dr Parinay Fuke, President of the Maharashtra Chess Association (MCA).

 

 

She was also flanked by former MLC Girish Vyas, President, Chess Association Nagpur (CAN) and Vice-President, MCA; her mother Dr Namrata, who was with her during the tournament in Batumi, Georgia; and former city Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari. Her grandmother was the first one to greet her with a garland and then Divya silently touched her feet and then her father Dr Jitendra’s feet. For the records, Divya, who has been a child prodigy, achieved what no Indian woman has ever had. In the all Indian Women’s World Cup chess final, Divya outsmarted her senior and India team-mate Koneru Humpy on Monday afternoon. In the process, Divya also became India’s latest Grandmaster — the 88th one. She qualified for the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, too. It was a very exciting and happy scene at the airport as many young kids, and among them mostly girls, were waiting curiously for having a glimpse of the latest world champ. They were holding her pictures, banners, chess boards and waving tricolour chanting ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ in between as the dhol tasha continued to reach its crescendo. There were no dearth of garlands, bouquets and even a balloon bouquets with twinkling lights inside.

 

The dhol tasha beats, that started half an hour before her scheduled arrival, refused to die down well past half an hour after the landing as she finally drove past in an open Jeep. During her very brief interaction at the airport, Divya acknowledged the welcome and promised to do better in future. “For me this is a stepping stone and I look forward to improving on my weakness. I am really happy to see such a rousing welcome. This type of love from citizens will only motivate me to do better,” Divya said amidst the loud beats of the dhol tasha. One of Divya’s favourite dish ‘patodi’ was prepared at home, her aunt Dr Smita informed. Former India cricketer Prashant Vaidya, who also arrived in the city from Mumbai, was all praise for the young champion terming the victory as “a huge achievement”. Not only representatives of Nagpur’s chess fraternity but from places like Chandrapur, Yavatmal and Paoni were in attendance. District Sports Officer Pallavi Dhatrak, NMC Sports Officer Dr Piyush Ambulkar, former Deputy Director Sports Dr Jaiprakash Duble, Dr Sambhaji Bhosale, NDCA’s Manoj Itkelwar, Vipin Kamdar, KK Barat, TN Bahadure, MCA Observer SS Soman, Dilip Pagay, Sushant Jumde, Gajanan Gole, Jayant Duble, parents of GM Raunak Sadhwani Bharat and Heena, Arun Bute were among the scores of city’s sports lovers who were present to witness one of the city’s glorious events.

 

 

 

TOAST of the nation and pride of Maharashtra Grandmaster (GM) Divya Deshmukh will be felicitated by the State Government on August 2 at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Hall at 11.30 am. City’s chess queen Divya Deshmukh became the first woman of the country to win Chess World Cup in Batumi, Georgia. In the final, 19-year-old Divya shocked much experienced 38-year-old Koneru Humpy to clinch the coveted title. Apart from winning the World Cup and earning Grandmaster title, Divya also booked a ticket for Candidates tournament.

 

The felicitation function of the 88th Grandmaster of India will be attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Revenue Minister and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Dattatreya Bharane, Minister of State Ashish Jaiswal will also grace the function, informed District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar. Sportspersons, organisers, well-wishers and Nagpurians apart from other parts of district will be attending the mega function, said Dr Itankar. He appealed to the athletes and sports lovers of the district to attend this ceremony in large numbers. During the meeting, an organising committee under Dr Itankar has been formed for the smooth conduct of the function. The meeting was attended by District Sports Officer Pallavi Dhatrak, NMC Sports Officer Dr Piyush Ambulkar, SS Soman of Chess Association Nagpur and other senior officials.