Meet Sneha Waykar, Gold Medallist Making Her Mark In Chess Boxing

Brains or brawn? For Sneha Sanjay Waykar, gold medallist in the Asian ChessBoxing Championship, the answer is both. A coding instructor by day and chess boxer by night, Waykar has ample experience in balancing wildly different tasks.

23-year-old Sneha Waykar is based out of Mumbai and is a coding instructor at the ed-tech platform BrightCHAMPS. She is also the winner of the gold medal in the Asian ChessBoxing Championship. She also won the silver medal in the India Open ChessBoxing Championship and the 4th World Chess Boxing Championship.

The athlete was also selected by Intellectual Fight Club (IFC) for professional fights. Waykar had been boxing for more than 4-5 years when her coach told her about the new sport which combined boxing and chess into one competitive game. Her coach know that Waykar hailed from a family filled with talented chess players and was a good player herself.

In Sneha Waykar's first chess boxing tournament, she won gold despite her opponent being excellent at chess. Waykar's skill in the boxing round won her the game. The athlete said, "The game requires you to be swift physically and mentally and gives you equal opportunities to win."

That victorious day led to Waykar staking up the sport and competing on a professional level. SheThePeople got the opportunity to speak with Sneha Waykar about chess boxing, the difficulties of going from boxing to playing chess, and how she's had to overcome stereotypes to get where she is today.

Interview With Sneha Waykar

What Sparked Sneha Waykar Interest In Chess Boxing?

Sneha Waykar's first gold in chess boxing (in her very first tournament) is what pushed her to take the game seriously and take it up professionally. Waykar has participated in numerous tournaments and works hard to maintain her rank.

Waykar describes chess boxing as a "unique sport that tests your physical and mental strength." She added that it is a sport, where "you cannot predict what can happen in the bout as both the games involved are very different from each other." Further, Waykar spoke about how people have to be quick with both their well-thought-out chess moves as well as their laborious boxing punches. After all, the players only have three minutes. She added that it's difficult to plan ahead or follow a strategy as one hit can change the entire game.

Sneha Waykar shared, "This uniqueness and unpredictability is what drew me to the game."

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Mental And Physical Challenges Of Chess Boxing

"The most challenging part of being a chess boxer is balancing the physical and mental demands of the sport," says Waykar.

The athlete added that the sport "combines the strategic thinking of chess with the physical challenges of boxing, so it requires a high level of physical fitness and mental agility." Waykar also added that it was not also exhausting to constantly switch between the mental and physical demands of chess boxing. However, with practice and training, chess boxers can hone their skills if they're disciplined and focus and work hard to develop the mental and physical skills needed.

Balancing Work And Sports

As a coding instructor and chess boxer who plays national and international tournaments, balancing work and tournaments was made easier for Waykar with the help of her teammates and manager. Sneha Waykar said, "They have been my constant cheerleaders, always accommodative and understanding of my rigid schedules."

On top of being accommodating and supportive, her teammates and managers even sponsored her recent international tournament held in Turkey, where Waykar won a silver medal. "I am also blessed to have a beautiful family that supports me through my highs and lows and constantly pushes me to raise my bar and achieve my dreams," said Waykar.

Awareness About Chess Boxing

Sneha Waykar picked up her chess boxing globes in 2019 when the sport was not well known. Over the year, she's seen the hybrid sport gain popularity as the "smartest and toughest game".

During the early stages of her career in chess boxing, she faced a lot of scepticism and doubt. However, with several medals and achievements under her belt, people have trust in her ability and encourage her.

Waykar also mentioned that finding a supportive sponsor is difficult and many athletes lose out due to a lack of financial assistance.

Overcoming Stereotypes And Discrimination

Waykar said, "As a woman in a male-dominated sport, I have often faced negative stereotypes about my physical abilities and mental toughness. However, I have worked hard to prove that I am just as capable and skilled as any male athlete."

Waykar added that she seeks out supportive communities and networks and surrounds herself with coaches and mentors who believe in her abilities. With hand work and determination, the athlete is able to overcome the barriers of discrimination and succeed.

Advice To Women Interested In Chess Boxing

Sneha Waykar advised young girls and women interested in chess boxing to focus on developing their skills in both sports and build a solid foundation of physical fitness and mental discipline.

Waykar mentioned that it was imperative to seek opportunities to train and compete in the hybrid sport and surround yourself with supportive and encouraging mentors and coaches.

She added, "Don't be afraid to push and challenge yourself, as this will help you improve and grow as a chess boxer."

The athlete signed off by saying, "Lastly, always remember to have fun and enjoy the unique mental and physical challenges of chess boxing!"