Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian chess team for winning the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad.

 “Congratulations to our chess players for winning the FIDE Online #ChessOlympiad. Their hard work and dedication are admirable. Their success will surely motivate other chess players. I would like to congratulate the Russian team as well,” wrote the PM on Twitter.

India and Russia were declared co-champions and awarded with gold medals after the 2020 Online Chess Olympiad final was marred by internet disconnection and server malfunction on Sunday. The result of the match was declared on the official Twitter handle of the International Chess Federation.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE), the governing body of the sport of chess, wrote on its official website: “By the decision of FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovichboth finalists – Russia and India – are declared co-champions and awarded with the gold medals.”