This is India's time in the chess world

Two key players who made history at the chess Olympiad, Vidit and Harika, encapsulate the rise of Indian chess and discuss what makes them and their compatriots dominate

It's been an incredible year for Indian chess, and it may to get even better over the next fortnight.

The Indian open and women's teams won their first-ever Olympiad gold medals, there are two Indian players ranked in the top five, and one of them-D Gukesh is the favourite to win the World Championship match later this month.

India's Olympiad glory has been in the making over the last decade. Two key players who made history in the campaign, Vidit Gujrathi and Harika Dronavalli, encapsulated the rise of Indian chess and discussed the ins and outs of what makes them and their compatriots click, at the 22nd Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

Vidit, ranked 15 in the world, believes that the Olympiad double gold has transformed how Indian chess and its players are viewed by the world. "So many people - even on the streets of London - came up and asked me for a picture, which was surprising; it's not something I was used to. It made me realize the significance of this Olympiad win and how much of a difference it has made," he said in a session moderated by senior assistant editor Susan Ninan.

For Harika, 33, it's been a particularly long wait. She and Koneru Humpy have been flag-bearers of Indian women's chess for decades. Last year R Vaishali joined them as India's third female Grandmaster.