Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised two Indian athletes for their remarkable achievements on Tuesday. Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu achieved a historic milestone by securing her second consecutive FIDE Women's Grand Swiss championship. The chess champion completed this feat after drawing against former Women's World Champion Tan Zhongyi during Monday's final round. Her victory guarantees India three representatives at the upcoming Candidates Tournament alongside Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh. This tournament determines who challenges the current women's world champion.
Modi also recognized Anandkumar Velkumar for his groundbreaking performance at the Speed Skating World Championships 2025. The 22-year-old athlete delivered India's first world championship gold medal by winning the Senior Men's 1000m Sprint event. Velkumar recorded a time of 1 minute and 24.924 seconds during a competition held in China. His achievement marks a significant breakthrough for Indian speed skating on the global stage. Both athletes received Modi's congratulations for their exceptional dedication and historic accomplishments.
Modi also recognized Anandkumar Velkumar for his groundbreaking performance at the Speed Skating World Championships 2025. The 22-year-old athlete delivered India's first world championship gold medal by winning the Senior Men's 1000m Sprint event. Velkumar recorded a time of 1 minute and 24.924 seconds during a competition held in China. His achievement marks a significant breakthrough for Indian speed skating on the global stage. Both athletes received Modi's congratulations for their exceptional dedication and historic accomplishments.
