Nagpur: Indian Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh has drawn national acclaim after her sensational win against World No. 1 Hou Yifan in the Blitz semi-finals of the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship held in London.
Among the many voices praising the young chess star was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to commend her grit and determination.
“Congratulations to Divya Deshmukh on defeating World No. 1 Hou Yifan in the 2nd leg of the Blitz semi-final at the World Team Blitz Championships, London. Her success highlights her grit and determination. It also inspires many upcoming chess players. Best wishes for her future endeavours,” he posted.
Expressing her gratitude, Divya replied, “Thank you, Respected Sir. It is a great honour and encouragement for me to be recognised by the Prime Minister.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised her resilience and focus, while Union Minister and Nagpur MP Nitin Gadkari hailed her fearless play as a “historic moment in Indian chess.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also celebrated the victory, calling it an “extraordinary moment” and adding, “Indian chess has found a new queen, and she hails from Nagpur!”
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, along with MLC Sandip Joshi, joined in congratulating Divya for making Nagpur and the entire nation proud.
Representing Hexamind Chess Club, Divya’s dominant performance at the championship has cemented her status as one of India’s brightest chess talents, inspiring a new generation of players across the country.
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