Chennai, December 20: Tamil Nadu Congress MP R Sudha has called for a tax exemption on the prize money won by newly crowned World Chess Champion Dommaraju Gukesh in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. In her letter, Sudha drew attention to previous instances where sports icons received tax exemptions during Congress-led governments. She cited the cases of cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Ravi Shastri, who were granted tax waivers for their earnings from sports-related achievements.

Sudha also appealed for a cash award from the Union government to further honour Gukesh's accomplishment, echoing the gesture made by the Tamil Nadu government. ā€œSuch recognition will not only celebrate Gukesh’s success but also motivate young Indians to pursue excellence in chess and other sports,ā€ she said. The Congress MP additionally suggested that Parliament pass a resolution congratulating Gukesh, emphasizing the significance of his victory at such a young age, marking a historic moment in Indian sports.Ā Gukesh D Becomes FIDE World Chess Champion, Find Out How Much Prize Money Indian Prodigy Wins Beating Former Champion Ding Liren?

Gukesh, 18, made history by securing the World Chess Championship title, a victory that earned him a substantial prize of $1.35 million (approximately INR 11.45 crore). However, the MP highlighted that Gukesh faces a significant tax liability of Rs 4.8 crore on his winnings, urging the government to waive this amount in recognition of his extraordinary achievement.

Gukesh's World Chess Championship victory came after a thrilling final against Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren, which ended in a 7.5-6.5 win for the Indian prodigy. Overcome with emotion, Gukesh described the win as "the best moment of his life" during the post-match press conference. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin To Felicitate FIDE World Chess Champion 2024 D Gukesh, Hand Over INR 5 Crore Cheque Today.

Following his triumph, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin honoured Gukesh with a grand felicitation ceremony, where he was presented with a cheque for INR 5 crore in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and chess legend Viswanathan Anand.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 20, 2024 11:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).