Savitha Shri returns to Chennai after nine-point run at Chess Olympiad 2026

B. Savitha Shri, a 19-year-old Chennai WGM who featured for India at the Chess Olympiad 2026 in Uzbekistan, was greeted by well-wishers and family when she arrived at Chennai Airport on September 29, 2026, after compiling an unbeaten, gold-medal winning run of nine points from 10 games as the women’s team clinched bronze.

Terminal 4 remained quiet until about 10 minutes before the Indian teams emerged, when a small crowd of supporters and fans gathered seeking selfies with the players. The attention, which often falls on R. Praggnanandhaa and R. Vaishali, was focused this time on Savitha Shri, who made her Olympiad debut as the reserve board player.

Savitha produced consecutive victories through much of the event, opening with four wins and finishing the tournament unbeaten with nine points from 10 games. Her run included a draw in the final round against Georgia that, according to the report, helped the team climb the podium.

Reflecting on a key individual game, Savitha identified her win over Elnaz Kaliakhmet of Kazakhstan as the standout: “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.”

Commenting on her overall showing and the early streak that set the tone, Savitha said, “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,” and she thanked her teammates for their support and for showing faith in her.

On arrival at Chennai Airport she was welcomed by family, including her grandmother, a moment captured in photographs credited to Velankanni Raj B.

Savitha’s nine points from 10 games and the final-round draw were instrumental in India securing the women’s team bronze at the Chess Olympiad 2026 in Uzbekistan.