Indian Universities Chess Women Team Players Aakanksha wins Gold & Saina wins Silver in the FISU World University Chess Championship 2024 at Entebbe, Uganda.

The FISU World University Chess Championship 2024 organized by Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) from 25^th – 30^th June 2024 at Entebbe Botanical Beach Hotel, Entebbe – Uganda was concluded today.  In the final today in the Women’s Classical Category both Aakanksha Hagawane & Saina Salonika drew their 9^th round matches to finish the Championship on 6.5 Points and thus winning the Gold & Silver Medal respectively. Mokshada Mahajan & Junu Birua finished the championship on 4.5 Points each to finish 17th & 18th Position respectively. This is the best performance of the Indian Universities Chess Team in its 2^nd appearance in the FISU World University Chess Championship after making its debut in 2018 at Brazil.

Saina Salonika from Delhi University who also is an alumnus of KIIT International School also thanked Prof. Samanta for supporting her from childhood in her chess journey. Junu Birua from KISS University also thanked Prof. Samanta who has given her the platform & unconditional support to excel in chess. All the players thanked Association of Indian Universities (AIU) for providing them the opportunity to be a part of the team and also KIIT University for providing all necessary support for facilitating them as the Nodal University. The team was accompanied by Mr. Sekhar Chandra Sahu, International Master, Sr. FIDE Trainer & Chess Consultant of KIIT who served as Head Coach and Ms. Lucky Rani Patra from KIIT who served as Team Official of the Indian Universities Chess Team.

Indian Universities Chess (W) Team:

SL NO	PLAYERS NAME	UNIVERSITY NAME
1	Aakanksha Hagawane	Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune
2	Mokshada Mahajan	Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune
3	Saina Salonika	Delhi University, New Delhi
4	Junu Birua	KISS University, Bhubaneswar

Dr. Baljit Singh Sekhon, Joint Secretary (YA & Sports), Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi was elated and expressed his happiness on the excellent results of the Indian Universities Chess (W) Team. He congratulated all the players & officials for their excellent performance and thanked Prof. Achyuta Samanta, Founder KIIT & KISS for providing all necessary support to the team. He also congratulated Prof. Samanta for his efforts for the upliftment of Tribals through education & sports as a result of which Ms. Junu Birua from KSIS University became the 1^st Tribal Girl to represent India in FISU World University Chess Championship 2024.

Prof. Achyuta Samanta, Founder KIIT & KISS thanked Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi for giving KIIT the opportunity to be the Nodal University for the Indian Universities Chess Team. He also congratulated Aakanksha & Saina on winning the Gold & Silver Medal respectively and Mokshada & Junu on their excellent performance in the said championship and wished every one good luck for their future endeavours.