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Abhinav Bindra made the ceremonial first move at the FIDE World Cup 2025 final in Goa, supporting chess growth alongside Wei Yi.
Abhinav Bindra greeting GM Wei Yi at the finals of the FIDE World Cup (Picture credit: Michal Walusza/FIDE)
India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, made a special appearance at the FIDE World Cup 2025, making the ceremonial first move in the opening game of the final between Chinese GM Wei Yi and GM Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan on Monday.
The 43-year-old, who won the 10m Air Rifle gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and inspired Indian athletes to aspire for global success, was in Goa to witness top-quality chess matches.
Bindra tried his hand at the sport as well, which originated in India, by playing two games with a FIDE official.
Although Bindra retired as a player after the 2016 Rio Olympics, his commitment to sporting excellence led to the creation of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation. This foundation aims to identify and nurture future sports stars in India, focusing on implementing global best practices in sports science.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the FIDE World Cup, the former world champion expressed his joy that chess enthusiasts could watch so many top players in action, thanks to AICF and FIDE’s decision to host the World Cup in India after a 23-year hiatus.
Bindra also mentioned the possibility of supporting the development of chess in the future. “I am quite sure that chess is not just played sitting down. It requires some physical preparation. You can see many players who need self-discipline, both physically and mentally. They are very resilient. So, if the sport itself grows, I would be happy to assist any chess brands interested in it.”
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you live updates, breaking news, opinions and photos from the wide world of sport. Follow @News18Sports
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you live updates, breaking news, opinions and photos from the wide world of sport. Follow @News18Sports
November 24, 2025, 23:52 IST
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