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World University Games 2025: India secure 20th spot with 12-medal haul
India finished the 2025 FISU World University Games in Germany in 20th place. India won a total of 12 medals -two gold, five silver, and five bronze- in the competition.
Three of the 12 medals came on the final day, when a silver medal was added courtesy of Ankita Dhyani in the women's 3,000m steeplechase. Also, two bronze medals came in the men's 4x100 metre relay race and the women's race walk teams. Japan topped the standings with 34 medals, with the People's Republic of China coming in second with 30 golds. The USA came third with 28 gold medals.
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Also Read | 'This is just the start': Confident Divya Deshmukh sets sights on more success after FIDE Women's World Cup history
Big winners for India at the World University Games
In the men's 4x100m relay, India's team comprising Lalu Prasad Bhoi, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidhar, and Dondapati Mrutyum Jayaram clinched bronze with a time of 38.89 seconds. South Korea topped the podium with a time of 38.50 seconds, followed by South Africa's silver medal performance of 38.80 seconds. This medal added to India's overall tally of five athletics medals, which included silver medals won by Praveen Chitravel in men's triple jump and Seema in women's 5000m race.
India excelled in compound archery, with Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Parneet Kaur claiming gold and silver medals in their respective individual events. The country also secured a gold in the mixed team event, while the men's team took silver and the women's team won bronze.
India's medal count began with a historic bronze in the mixed team badminton event, marking the country's second-ever badminton medal. In tennis, Vaishnavi Adkar won a singles bronze, securing India's first-ever tennis medal since Nandan Bal's silver in 1979.
India's best-ever show in the World University Games came in 2023, when the tournament was held in Chengdu, China. India secured the 7th place with 26 medals, including 11 golds, back then.
The next edition of the World University Games will take place 2027 at the Chungcheong Province, South Korea.
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Deccan Herald
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Will 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh's achievement of winning the Women's World Cup herald the beginning of a new era in Indian Women's chess? Will it inspire more girls to concentrate on chess in a cricket crazy nation after seeing a teenager holding high, her achievements in a cup lifted by an Indian woman for the very first time?.After all, when was the last time that a chess player waltzed away with a triple bonanza in a single event -- winning the World Cup, earning the Grandmaster (GM) title and securing a seat to the 8 player Women's Candidates tournament. Not to mention a cool USD 50,000 prize as the Indian chess had plenty to cheer about with the likes of Dommaraju Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, Aravindh Chithambram and Nihal Sarin, to name a few, women's chess for a long time rejoiced only on the exploits of the legendary Koneru Humpy and Dronavalli Harika. Divya's dream performance, starting as the 15th seed will infuse fresh breath into women's is the queen of Indian chess .Batumi in Georgia has always been renowned for its graceful women world champions during the Soviet domination and what better venue for Divya than this to also begin her journey into the elite club. The last month has been nothing short of a dream come true for the petite, smartly-attired Divya, who just a few months back was unsure whether to pursue her dreams on the chequered board or tread along hospital corridors just like her parents' medical quite clearly isn't a one off performance by Divya for she had firmly made her presence strongly felt at the Pune leg of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix where she finished 3rd amidst an elite field, a event where she had stepped in as the host entry. Ironically, this was one among the series of qualifying event for the Candidates. Her confidence and quiet playing strength were clearly visible even is the golden girl of Indian chess; a team member of the Olympiad gold-medal winning Indian women team and an individual gold medallist at the Budapest Olympiad last has also struckgold at the Asian Championship, World junior and World Youth. A few days back Divya had also defeated former world junior champion Hou Yifan in the World Team Blitz Championship last sets Divya apart from her peers is the sheer confidence she oozes out and the ability to keep her cool under the most stressful of situations on board. Nagpur-based Divya learnt chess as a five-year-old from Rahul Joshi and then has been coached by Dronacharya awardee GM R B Ramesh, GM Abhijit Kunte and GM Srinath Narayanan during different mother Namrata, who accompanies her to major tournaments, is quick to point out her winning ways, saying: 'she is hardworking, mature and has competed in tough tournaments which has greatly helped. Divya has lived all her life, playing chess and we have been comfortable with her choice and will continue to support her.'.A happy Ramesh also commented: 'Big victory at such a young age. A confident player deserving of such a big success. This is the beginning of a long journey for her.'.Kunte, the coach of the Indian women's Olympiad team at Budapest, has also worked with Divya and is quick to point out, 'it is unbelievable what Divya has achieved at just 19 years, defeating two strong Chinese competitors and also Harika and Humpy en performances in recent times also indicate that she can dominate women's chess and eventually become the first Woman World Champion from India.'
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
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The Hindu
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The little girl was dressed in a pink frock and a pinker overcoat. 'Divya Deshmukh,' she said when one asked her what her name was, on that November afternoon at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai. The year was 2013. She had just won the National Under-9 girls' chess championship, which was held as one of the side-events of the World championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen at Hyatt Regency. How time flies! Divya is now one of the most exciting young talents in international women's chess. The latest proof came on Monday, at Batumi in Georgia, where she became the first Indian woman to win the chess World Cup. In an all-Indian final, she defeated the much more experienced, higher-rated Koneru Humpy. After both the classical games had been drawn, the title had to be decided in tiebreaker games, played with shorter time controls. The first game was drawn in 81 moves. Divya had white pieces, and she ensured half-a-point through perpetual checks with her queen. The second game, in which Divya was black, was wilder, with both players making significant mistakes. On the 42nd move, an unwise pawn-push down the centre by Humpy had given the younger woman a clear advantage. But Divya returned the compliment just a move later, going for a pawn-exchange, instead of which she should have played her rook on the back rank. And now it looked the point in the second game too would be shared, in an equal rook-and-pawn ending. On the 54th move, however, Humpy went for a pawn-capture with her rook, and black got the advantage back But, Divya failed to capitalise yet again. Humpy's 69th move, with her pawn on the king-side, proved fatal, though. This time, Divya, made no mistake. When black's extra pawn reached the penultimate rank, threatening to turn into a queen, Humpy extended her hand, and conceded defeat. It was a significant moment for Indian chess. Here was the undisputed queen congratulating the princess who could one day become the queen. Divya's right hand went towards her face, and there would be tears of joy. She, however, forced a smile as FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich came up to her and congratulated her. A little later, all her pent-up tears came out, as did her mother's. Namrata had sacrificed her career as a gynaecologist for the sake of her daughter's career. It hasn't been easy for the family, with Divya not having a sponsor, and chess, contrary to popular notion, is an expensive sport, as you need to travel around the world and quality coaches do not come cheap. The prize-money from the World Cup should come in handy: she has become richer by $50,000. That isn't the only thing that should make her smile. By winning the World Cup, she became India's 88th Grandmaster, and only the fourth woman from the country to do so. She, along with Humpy, also qualified for the Candidates tournament. This was very much a World Cup to remember for India's women.
