Sri Lanka claims gold in women's chess competition at Olympiad

Sri Lanka's women's chess contingent achieved a notable triumph at the 46th Chess Olympiad, recently concluded in the Uzbek city of Samarkand. The team captured the gold medal in the Category C section, finishing 34th overall in the competition that drew players from across the globe.

The Sri Lankan team's achievement came as the overall medals were distributed among stronger chess-playing nations. China claimed gold in the women's section, while Kazakhstan secured silver and India took bronze in the main standings.

Players Oshini and Yenuthi were instrumental in Sri Lanka's success, delivering standout performances throughout the tournament. Their contributions helped the team secure a commanding margin over the silver medalist Panama, which finished 60th overall, demonstrating the gulf in competitive standard between the divisions.

The Category C competition provides an important platform for developing chess nations to compete at the Olympiad, one of the world's most prestigious chess tournaments. Sri Lanka's gold medal win underscores the growing strength of chess development in the island nation and offers encouragement for the sport's future on the international stage.