Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the original handwritten scoresheet from the 2025 FIDE World Cup final to Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a state visit, according to a statement from the All India Chess Federation (AICF) reported by the Times of India on September 2, 2026.
The match, which took place in Goa, featured Uzbek Grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov. The scoresheet from the final was selected as a diplomatic gift to honor the chess heritage shared between the two nations.
Commenting on the gesture, the AICF Chief stated, according to the Times of India report, "Chess diplomacy, quite literally."
The presentation follows a broader trend of sports diplomacy where the Indian government utilizes high-profile sporting achievements to strengthen bilateral diplomatic ties with Central Asian nations, per official government exchange records.
The diplomatic gesture signals a strengthening of India-Uzbekistan cultural and sporting cooperation, potentially leading to joint training programs for young chess players from both nations.
