Chief Justice of India Surya Kant presented the Dynamite News Young India Country Award to 19-year-old chess grandmaster Divya Deshmukh in New Delhi on January 26. The honour recognizes her recent victory in the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, where she became the first Indian woman to win the title. Kant praised her achievements and expressed anticipation for her future milestones.
On January 26, 2026, in New Delhi, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant conferred the Dynamite News Young India Country Award upon woman grandmaster Divya Deshmukh. The 19-year-old chess prodigy received the accolade for her groundbreaking success in the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, where she defeated compatriot Koneru Humpy 1.5–0.5 in the rapid tie-breaks of the all-Indian final, securing India's first women's world championship title.
During the ceremony, Justice Surya Kant remarked, “It is a matter of pride for us. These children have brought great pride to the nation. The country is looking forward to your next achievement.” He also commended the Dynamite News Award jury for recognizing young talent across various fields.
Senior IAS officer Sanjay Kothari praised Deshmukh's remarkable accomplishments and thanked her parents, Dr. Namrata Deshmukh and Dr. Jitendra Deshmukh, for their support in her chess journey. Dynamite News Chairperson Rani Tibrewal welcomed the chief justice, while Editor-in-Chief Manoj Tibrewal Aakash expressed gratitude for his participation.
Accepting the award, Deshmukh stated, “It’s a matter of great pride for me that the Dynamite News jury has selected me for this prestigious award. At this stage of my career, this award will encourage me further.”
The award, selected by a four-member jury including Justice Ranjana Desai, Sanjay Kothari, Prof. Chinmay Pandya, and Dr. M.C. Mishra, includes a citation, plaque, shawl, and Rs 1 lakh cash prize. Deshmukh joins fellow recipients Manu Bhaker and Ruma Devi, whose awards were presented earlier by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, and Justice Rajesh Bindal.
This recognition highlights India's growing prowess in chess, with Deshmukh's victory marking a significant milestone for women in the sport.
