‘We’re the top seeds!’: Divya Deshmukh exudes confidence as India beat Mongolia for 4th win

The Indian women's chess team at the 2026 Chess Olympiad is displaying a formidable performance. Following their opening match win against Mongolia, the defending champions extended their unbeaten streak to four games on Saturday. The team's lower boards were instrumental in securing the victory, with Divya Deshmukh and Savitha Shri B each claiming triumphs on Board 3 and Board 4, respectively.

Divya triumphed over WCM Khishigbaatar Bayasgalan with the black pieces, while Savitha defeated IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul with the white pieces. Veteran Indian Koneru Humpy narrowly escaped a setback, maintaining pressure against Woman International Master (WIM) Bat-Erdene Mungunzul on the top board, earning herself a half-point from the encounter.

In addition to the men's team, the women's team has been consistently impressive. The 3-1 win over Mongolia marked the first time the women's side had allowed any team to secure a full point against them in four rounds. Divya expressed her confidence, stating, "I think for sure. We're the top seeds, so we will be looking forward to defending our title. It'll be the first for India." This would be India's maiden defense of the title.