Arjuna Awards for Vidit and Divya

Vidit Gujrathi and Divya Deshmukh received the Arjuna Award 2025 from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on 13 November 2026. Vidit and Divya were among the 17 sportspersons selected for the honour.

Vidit Gujrathi receives the Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu. | Photo: Official Source

Divya Deshmukh receives the Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu. | Photo: Official Source

The award recognises their achievements over the years. Vidit won the FIDE Grand Swiss in 2023. He qualified for the Candidates Tournament in 2024, where he finished sixth and beat Hikaru Nakamura twice. He was also part of the Indian men's team that won silver at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.

Vidit Gujrathi with the trophy after winning the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss in the Isle of Man.

Divya won the Asian Continental Women's Championship in 2023 and World Junior Girls Championship in 2024. In 2025, she won the FIDE Women's World Cup in Batumi, defeating Humpy Koneru in the tiebreaks to become the third Women's World Cup champion. This win earned her the Grandmaster title.

Divya after winning the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 in Batumi. | Photo: Michal Walusza

At the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, both Vidit and Divya were part of India's gold medal-winning teams, and Divya also won individual gold on board three.

The Indian Open and Women's teams celebrating their historic double gold at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. | Photo: Stev Bonhage

Their selection was announced in August 2026; today was the moment to receive the awards from the President!

It's a great feeling... it feels good to see my family members happy. All the struggles of earlier years. We never thought that this will happen. Seeing them happy and proud makes me very happy.

- Vidit Gujrathi