Nagpur
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis honoured young chess star Divya Deshmukh on Saturday after her historic win at the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. At a public event in Nagpur, she received a cash prize of ₹3 crore from the Maharashtra government for her achievement.
Deshmukh, 19, became the youngest ever to win the Women’s World Cup title. She beat fellow Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in the final tie-breaker at Batumi, Georgia, on July 28. The win not only gave her the trophy but also earned her the Grandmaster title.
The chess champion, who also hails from Nagpur like CM Fadnavis, said the moment was extremely special. “I am so happy to be a small part of children’s motivation and inspiration. This is a very rare and joyful moment in my life,” she said while thanking the CM and the people of Nagpur.
CM Fadnavis praised Deshmukh, calling her victory a proud moment for the country, the state, and their shared hometown. He said the government aims to motivate more children through such recognitions and will continue to support sports development.
Sport Minister Manikrao Kokate, also present, promised better sports facilities and training programs for young talents across Maharashtra.
Divya also thanked the Maharashtra Chess Association and the state government for helping her grow. The government’s support, she said, played a key role in her success.
The grand felicitation ended with CM Fadnavis assuring continued encouragement for Deshmukh’s future competitions on the world stage.