Chess grandmasters Vidit Santosh Gujarathi and Divya Jitendra Deshmukh were honoured with the prestigious Arjuna Award 2025 by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on November 13, 2026.

Both players received the national sports honour in recognition of their outstanding achievements in international chess tournaments and their contribution to Indian chess. They were among the 17 sportspersons selected for the Arjuna Award 2025.

Vidit Gujarathi Recognised for International Chess Achievements

Vidit Santosh Gujarathi received the Arjuna Award for his impressive performances in international chess competitions.

His major achievements include:

– Gold medal at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad (Open Team) held in Budapest, Hungary, in 2024.

– Silver medal at the Asian Games (Men’s Team) in Hangzhou, China, in 2023.

– Gold medal at the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament held in the Isle of Man in 2023. 

Divya Deshmukh Honoured for Her Achievements in Chess

Divya Jitendra Deshmukh was also recognised for her remarkable performances in international women’s chess tournaments.

Her major achievements include:

– Two gold medals at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad (Women’s Team and Individual) held in Budapest, Hungary, in 2024.

– Gold medal at the Asian Continental Women’s Chess Championship held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 2023.

– Bronze medal at the Asian Continental Women’s Chess Championship held in Delhi, India, in 2022.

President Droupadi Murmu Presents National Sports Awards 2025

The Sports and Adventure Awards 2025 ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 13, 2026. President Droupadi Murmu presented the Arjuna Awards along with other national sports and adventure honours.

The recognition of Vidit Gujarathi and Divya Deshmukh highlights India’s growing achievements in international chess and celebrates the contribution of its talented players to the sport.