Five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand has been conferred the Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) Gold Medal for his extraordinary contribution to Indian chess and outstanding achievements in the sport. The award was presented to the 56-year-old chess legend by former India cricket captain and chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth at a ceremony held at the Madras Cricket Club (MCC) in Chennai. With this honour, Anand became the sixth recipient of the prestigious medal, joining an elite group of India’s greatest sporting icons.
About the SJFI Gold Medal
The Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) instituted the SJFI Gold Medal in 2019 to honour sportspersons whose contributions have transcended competitive success and significantly influenced the growth and development of their respective sports over several decades. The SJFI, founded in 1976, is the apex body of sports journalists in India and has long been an integral part of the country’s sporting ecosystem.
Unlike conventional lifetime achievement awards that are often decided by administrators or government panels, the SJFI Gold Medal carries special weight because it comes from the very people who have witnessed and reported the athlete’s journey first-hand. The award recognises not just medals and titles, but the broader impact a sportsperson has had on inspiring generations and elevating their sport within India.
Viswanathan Anand’s Illustrious Career
Born on 11 December 1969 in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, Viswanathan Anand learned chess at the age of six from his mother. His rise in the chess world was rapid. He won the National Sub-Junior Championship at 14, became an International Master (IM) at 15, and claimed the World Junior Chess Championship in 1987. In 1988, at just 18, he became India’s first Grandmaster, a landmark moment for Indian sport.
Anand went on to win the World Chess Championship five times (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012). He was the undisputed world champion from 2007 to 2013, defeating elite opponents including Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov, and Boris Gelfand in title defences. He also won the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship twice (2003 and 2017) and the Chess World Cup twice (2000 and 2002).
In April 2006, Anand became only the fourth player in history to cross the 2800 Elo rating mark, after Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, and Veselin Topalov. He held the world number one ranking for 21 months. Known early in his career as the “Lightning Kid” for his blistering speed of play, Anand is widely regarded as one of the greatest rapid chess players of his generation.
Anand is currently serving as the Deputy President of FIDE (International Chess Federation), to which he was elected in August 2022. Beyond his personal achievements, he has been a catalyst for the chess boom in India, inspiring a new generation that includes Grandmasters like Gukesh Dommaraju, R Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi.
National Honours Received by Anand
| Award | Year | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Arjuna Award | 1985 | Sports |
| Padma Shri | 1987 | Civilian (Fourth highest) |
| Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (first recipient) | 1991-92 | Sports (Highest) |
| Padma Bhushan | 2000 | Civilian (Third highest) |
| Padma Vibhushan (first sportsperson) | 2007 | Civilian (Second highest) |
The Award Ceremony
The ceremony was hosted at the historic Madras Cricket Club (MCC) in Chennai in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists’ Association (TNSJA). The gold medal was presented by K. Srikkanth, former India cricket captain and chief selector, who recalled playing chess against Anand in the mid-1980s. “I got knocked out in five or six moves, but that is fine. Being the world champion in an individual sport, just imagine. He deserves a standing ovation,” Srikkanth said as the gathering rose to applaud.
Accepting the honour, Anand said, “I am proud in a way to have been a catalyst for the growth of chess in India. This is very much a recognition by my peers for real achievements and contributions. This is very special because it is hardcore; these are people who will appreciate you for what you did and not necessarily the impact it had or anything else.” He thanked his wife Aruna Anand during his address.
Among the dignitaries present were V. Baskaran, captain of India’s 1980 Olympic gold medal winning hockey team; Saraju Chakraborty, SJFI President; V. Ramesh, SJFI Secretary; and veteran journalist R. Mohan, who read the citation. Eminent chess personalities including Grandmasters K. Sasikiran and Shyam Sundar, and International Masters Manuel Aaron and V. Saravanan also attended.
On the occasion, Anand released a 44-page ebook titled “The King of Chess”, which featured contributions from India’s top seven Grandmasters and eminent chess writers.
Previous Recipients of the SJFI Gold Medal
Anand is the sixth sportsperson to receive the SJFI Gold Medal since its inception in 2019. The previous recipients are:
| Recipient | Sport | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Sunil Gavaskar | Cricket | 2021 |
| Vijay Amritraj | Tennis | 2022 |
| Prakash Padukone | Badminton | 2023 |
| P.T. Usha | Athletics | 2024 |
| Milkha Singh (posthumous) | Athletics | 2024 |
Key Takeaways
- Viswanathan Anand became the sixth recipient of the SJFI Gold Medal, which was instituted in 2019 by the Sports Journalists’ Federation of India.
- Anand is India’s first Grandmaster (1988), a five-time World Chess Champion (2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012), and currently serves as Deputy President of FIDE.
- The medal was presented by former India cricket captain K. Srikkanth at the Madras Cricket Club in Chennai, in association with the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists’ Association.
- Previous recipients include Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay Amritraj, Prakash Padukone, P.T. Usha, and the late Milkha Singh.
- Anand is the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (1991-92) and the first sportsperson to receive the Padma Vibhushan (2007).
- The SJFI, founded in 1976, is the apex body of sports journalists in India and an affiliate of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).
