Odisha’s chess star Padmini Rout delivered an impressive performance at the World Women’s Team Chess Championship held in Spain, securing the individual Board 1 bronze medal and bringing pride to India and her home state. While the Indian team fell short in the quarterfinals after a tough loss to Kazakhstan, Padmini stood out with her consistent and gritty play against some of the world’s strongest opponents.

Competing on the top board, the IM and WGM played six matches, losing only once, to China’s legendary Grandmaster Hou Yifan. She earned crucial victories over Anna Ushenina of Ukraine and Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, both formidable names in the global chess arena. Padmini also held her ground with draws against higher-ranked players, including Nino Batsiashvili (Georgia), G. Tokhirjonova (Uzbekistan), and Deimante Daulyte-Cornette (France), highlighting her resilience and strategic depth.

Team India finished third in Pool B, behind strong contenders Georgia and China, concluding a challenging but competitive run in the championship. The tournament wrapped up with the FIDE team claiming the gold medal, maintaining an unbeaten streak, and defeating Azerbaijan in a dominant final match.

Padmini Rout’s Board 1 bronze stands out as a major individual achievement, underlining her exceptional form and reinforcing her position as one of India’s most reliable performers in global women’s chess.