Indian Chess Prodigy Gukesh Climbs Grand Tour Standings, TT Stars Secure More Medals

Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh, the reigning World Champion, made a significant leap in the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2026, climbing to a joint second position after a stellar performance on Day 2, July 3rd. This impressive rebound in the third event of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour sees him charging towards the top as the tournament heads into its final day. Meanwhile, India's young table tennis talents continue to shine at the Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships in Bangkok, securing two additional medals for the nation. The U-19 girls' doubles pair of Syndrela Das and Divyanshi Bhowmick powered their way into the final, guaranteeing at least a silver medal for India by overcoming a strong Chinese duo. Not stopping there, Syndrela Das also showcased her individual prowess by advancing to the U-19 girls' singles semifinals, which assures her of at least a bronze. These latest successes bring India's total medal count in the championships to four, adding to the bronze medals previously won in the U-19 boys' team and U-19 mixed doubles categories. With Day 3 of the Grand Chess Tour Croatia set to conclude the rapid section, all eyes will be on Gukesh to see if he can further improve his standings and challenge current leader Alireza Firouzja. In table tennis, Syndrela Das and Divyanshi Bhowmick will be vying for gold in their respective finals, promising more thrilling action and potential podium finishes for India in the coming days.