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

B. Savitha Shri arrived at Terminal 4 of Chennai Airport on September 29, 2026 after an unbeaten showing at the Chess Olympiad, where she scored nine points from 10 games.

A small crowd of well-wishers and fans gathered at the terminal, many seeking selfies with the players, as Savitha Shri emerged from the arrivals area; her grandmother greeted her on arrival. For a change, attention fell on the 19-year-old Chennai WGM rather than R. Praggnanandhaa and R. Vaishali. Savitha was the reserve board player in her Olympiad debut.

Savitha compiled a series of victories throughout the event and singled out one win as decisive: "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."

Reflecting on her overall contribution, 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.

A draw in the final round against Georgia helped the Indian women's side move onto the podium, and the team clinched the bronze medal at the Chess Olympiad.