00:00I don't think there's a word to really describe this feeling.
00:04I think for me, my career, it's right up there.
00:07I started my Olympic journey back in 2008 in Dresden.
00:12You know, it was a dream to have the women team on the podium.
00:16It finally happened in 2024, after 16 years, after 8 Olympics.
00:20And in the best way imaginable, because we had the men team alongside us,
00:24the women team, the historic double gold, and I think I'm still processing it.
00:27It's the biggest stage. Every match is extremely difficult.
00:30There's high expectations, high pressure.
00:33But if I had to point to one moment that I'm really proud of for my team,
00:37it's actually when we lost the 8th round against Poland.
00:41We were leading, we had won all our 7 matches.
00:43Our 8th match, we had a setback, we lost that one.
00:46And why I'm proud of my team is because of the resilience we showed after that.
00:50Because one of the most difficult things in sports is to do is to make a comeback.
00:55We had to play against US in round 9.
00:59And this is the same team who we lost against in the Chennai 22 Olympiad in the final match.
01:04So lots of memories, lots of flashbacks and this grudge match.
01:09And we were able to come back, we were able to overcome the challenge.
01:12And I think that's the moment that I'm super proud of.
01:15It's again, once again, something that's hard to put into words because
01:19his contribution, his guidance, the inspiration that he's given to every single chess player in the country.
01:26It's impossible to put it into words.
01:30And whatever chess is today, it's on his shoulders.
01:34It's because of him.
01:36There's this question that why is this golden generation, this golden period of chess?
01:41If you all had to point out to one reason, I think that would be Vishisah.
01:44I think it only means great things because everyone's been saying that
01:48India is a powerhouse in chess now.
01:52The future of chess is in India.
01:54But with this performance, this historic double gold,
01:57I think we've established that India is not only the future, it's the present of chess.
02:01And hopefully this victory will inspire many, many young boys and girls to take up the sport.
02:06Very special.
02:07Another, I think it was an evening that's going to stay with us for a very, very long time.
02:12He loves sports.
02:15He has such a big vision for sports in India.
02:18And I think he has so much affection for athletes.
02:21And that was really nice too.
02:23It was really a special interaction with him.
02:25We learnt a lot from him, exchanged a lot of stories of the of the Chess Olympics with him.
02:30And I think he fills everyone with enthusiasm.
02:33A lot of them, a lot of stories were exchanged and a lot of advice he gave us on many, many things,
02:39which again will help us going forward in many ways.
02:42But I think the one thing that he said was,
02:44that hunger should never be destroyed.
02:46And that desire to learn and to go forward should always be there.
02:50It's really been very special, the kind of support and love that we've received after the gold medal.
02:58Firstly, I would like to thank the fans as well for cheering us on, for rooting for us.
03:02And also Sai, our All India Chess Federation.
03:04And of course, meeting the Honorable Prime Minister and the Sports Minister today.
03:07I think these are the moments that we take away with us
03:10to be more inspired, to give even more for our country and to play our hearts out.
Comments