Sneha Waykar's tale of breaking new ground in Chess Boxing

Chess plus boxing — sounds like an unheard-of fictional combination, right?

But before readers dismiss this as a fallacy, let us assure you that this is indeed a sport and a rapidly growing one at that.

And what's more, one of the headline acts at a recent showcase event featured an Indian, who incidentally happens to be one of the best in the business.

This is the world of Chess Boxing, a sport that combines strategy and strength.

And this fusion of intellect and athleticism is epitomized by Sneha Waykar, India's leading figure in the world of chess boxing.

Based in Mumbai, Sneha has not only embraced this hybrid sport but has also excelled on the international stage.

A pioneering journey

Sneha Waykar's foray into chess boxing began six years ago, but her achievements are already getting noticed.

Recently, she participated at the Cultural Olympiad, an event held before the Paris Olympics to showcase cultural and sporting events.

“We had the privilege to put chess boxing as a sport, and I was the 1st female fighter who was nominated for this event,” Waykar said in an exclusive conversation with The Bridge.

The bout was a showcase event just ahead of the Olympics and was attended by over 3,000 spectators and covered by more than 200 international journalists and Waykar’s participation was a moment of pride for India.

Understanding Chess Boxing

For many, chess boxing might sound unusual, but it’s a sport that combines the strategic depth of chess with the physical demands of boxing.

The sport alternates between chess and boxing rounds. The first round is chess and lasts for three minutes.

Should a checkmate not ensue, the players move to the boxing round, where a win can be achieved through a knockout or by the referee stopping the fight after three counts. If neither of that occurs, the chess round resumes with the same position as before, providing a unique challenge to the athletes.

“In chess boxing, you either win by checkmate, illegal moves, or time out,” Waykar explained.

The Mumbaikar has been on the circuit for a while now and her achievements in chess boxing have been promising.

International recognition and achievements

Waykar recently excelled at the World Chess Boxing Championship held in Risione, Italy, where she won three medals.

“The World Championship has 2 more events: Chess Boxing Fit and Chess Boxing Light.”

She explains that in 'Chess Boxing Fit' competitors play chess and then hit a punching bag, with the highest number of punches winning the boxing component. Meanwhile, 'Chess Boxing Light' involves a lighter boxing round followed by chess.

Waykar’s versatility and skill in these different formats contributed to her multiple medal wins.

Moreover, at the Paris Olympics, Waykar’s performance got heads turning as she competed against Kenza from France in a bout that was part of the demonstration sport for Chess Boxing.

“In the Paris Olympics, there were only two fights selected—one male and one female,” she said.

The fight was a huge milestone as it introduced the sport to a wider audience.

Waykar won by checkmate due to a timeout in the chess round after delivering two counts in the boxing round.

“Playing in front of so many people was so different. The vibe was so different,” Waykar added.

Despite her success, Waykar manages to balance her sporting career with professional commitments.

She completed her engineering and now works while continuing her training in parallel.

“I am working as a coding instructor as a freelancer. And along with that, I train myself two-times for chess and for boxing,” she explained.

The dual demands of chess boxing requires rigorous training, and Waykar manages this balance effectively by scheduling morning chess practice and evening boxing sessions.

Chess Boxing in India

In India, the sport is still in its nascent stages.

The sport’s roots in India trace back to Calcutta, where the first chess boxing club was founded under Montu Das’s leadership.

Waykar notes that there are around 3,000 chess boxers in India, but the sport is not yet part of the national games.

“We have a state federation in Maharashtra and an Indian federation in Kolkata,” she said.

There is hope that, with increasing recognition and support, chess boxing could eventually be included in the national games.

There are, however, plenty of hurdles.

Challenges and goals

One of the biggest challenges for chess boxing athletes is securing sponsorships and support.

“For France, I had the invitation. So I actually did all the things for me,” said Waykar.

She manages her own sponsorship and crowdfunding efforts for tournaments.

Her current focus is on the upcoming World Championship in Armenia, where she aims to win gold.

“I am preparing for it, which is in Armenia in October. I want to win gold this world championship,” she said.

Waykar is also committed to advancing the sport and hopes to see it recognized in the Olympics.

“It’s a very good sport where you get to learn 2 different abilities that is the strength training also and the mind also works in the chess round,” she added.

She believes that more recognition and support can foster the growth of the sport.

As chess boxing seeks to gain traction in a landscape where multiple sports strive for recognition, Sneha Waykar remains a key figure in its development.

With every bout and move on the board, she strives to draw attention to the sport with her unyielding dedication and achievements with a hope that one day, the sport get its due.

“If the government also recognizes this sport, it would be beneficial for everyone,” she concluded.