‘I Suggested It…’: Praggnanandhaa Opens Up on Viral Dance Celebration After Chess Olympiad Win

On September 22, 2023, India etched its name in history by clinching gold medals in both the men’s and women’s categories at the 2024 Chess Olympiad held in Budapest. The men’s team, featuring D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi, showcased remarkable skill and teamwork, securing crucial victories to secure the gold. Meanwhile, the women’s team, consisting of Harika Dronavalli, Rameshbabu Vaishali, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, and Tania Sachdev, also triumphed, marking a historic moment for Indian chess.

As the excitement of victory unfolded, a lively video of the champions dancing to the infectious Punjabi song "Tunuk Tunuk" went viral. The video of the team dancing to the popular Punjabi song "Tunuk Tunuk" has been viewed millions of times.

Also Read: Pakistan chess players hold tricolour to celebrate India's Chess Olympiad double gold - VIDEO

R Praggnanandhaa on the viral dance celebration after winning Chess Olympiad gold

In a recent interview with Republic Media Network, Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa opened up about the iconic dance celebration that took the internet by storm after India's historic gold medal win at the 45th Chess Olympiad. The 17-year-old chess prodigy revealed that it was his idea to break into a dance celebration with the trophy in hand, and his teammates were more than happy to join in.

“Yeah, we were all very pumped up after winning the gold, so I suggested this and everyone was very happy with it,” Praggnanandhaa shared, reflecting on the spontaneous celebration.

When asked about his future plans, Praggnanandhaa emphasized his commitment to the sport: “I have lots of tournaments coming up, so I want to focus on it and give my best.” 

Also Read: Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi Embraces Chess as a Fortuitous Journey: ‘It Was a Happy Accident’

The 18-year-old D Gukesh was a key architect in India’s historic victory, as the men's team defeated Slovenia 3.5-0.5 in the final round to claim their first-ever gold at the prestigious event.

India's men's team was on the brink of winning the gold medal after defeating USA 2.5-1.5 on Saturday. Needing only a draw in the final round, the team went one better by defeating Slovenia to clinch the top spot.

Gukesh will challenge China’s Ding Liren for the world title later this year, but he said that wasn’t on his mind during the Olympiad.

(With PTI inputs)