THE CONQUEST OF BUDAPEST - S.GANESAN( Secretary of Pudukkottai District Chess Association)
It was a long, long quest
by the nation which invented chess,
to get a gold at Olympiad.
True, silver and bronze,
gifted Individuals like Rafiq and Viji
got in the past,
but never the team gold
till the Budapest Olympiad.
Well, the Olympiad held at Hungary,
the land of Magyars and the mighty Polgars,
Lo, arrived the young Indian masters, men and women
Carrying the legacy of the Tiger of Madras
and the hopes of millions of Indians and fans elsewhere,
Fully charged, determined for deeds greater,
The vyuha of the men’s team crafted carefully
by Srinath, the coach.
Fiery Gukesh was fielded in the top board
Arjun played aggressive chess and
Pragg played solid and attacked the foe,
as the battle-board demanded
The team’s fortunes, strengthened further
By the heroics of Vidit and Hari
The champion chess colts’ majestic march
boasted wins against rivals, arch
Hungary, America, Slovenia
Chess Continents crumbled at the
Concentrated attacks of the young Indian warriors
Who tamed all and emerged victorious
The young Indian women’s team of Kunte,
Matched the talent and deeds of the Indian men
Harika Dronavalli at top board, drawing and winning,
Assuring a solid support, with hopes dawning
Divya Deshmukh, the darling of the Olympiad
And the fearless tigress of the team,
Attacked all-out in her games,
Going for the kill and scoring points at will.
Vantika and Vaishali defended well,
At times, the inferior positions in their tables,
Only to turn the tables, at the right time,
With their counter attacks and crafty play.
Tania Sachdev rendered solid support
By her steady play and steely nerves.
Came final round, the young Indian women
Taught the Azerbaijanis, a lesson or two over the board
Picked up the lion’s share of points in their hoard
And in the process, won the Olympiad gold!
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