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 **** 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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