Most people stumble upon their passion by accident. But very few turn that accident into a journey that takes them across countries, earns them world medals, and carves their name into history. Madhavi Gonbare is one of those rare fighters. Her story is shaped by discipline, struggle, and fire to rise, again and again.
A childhood of sports
Madhavi grew up loving sports. While other children spent their evenings playing casually, she spent hers learning, competing, and trying to get better. She had a deep interest in physical activities and slowly became a part of her personality. Along with her love for sports, she also completed her “NCC C” Certificate.
In 2016, Madhavi entered the world of combat sports. She explored everything she could, like boxing, kickboxing, judo, karate, and even mixed martial arts. All these explorations were preparing her for a future she hadn’t imagined yet.
Chessboxing and infinite achievements
In 2017, life took an unexpected turn. One of her coaches told her about a chessboxing tournament. At first, Madhavi didn’t fully understand what it was, but once she checked it out fully, she fell in love with the sport. She took help from her brother in learning chessboxing, who patiently taught her from scratch.
Within a short time, she was able to enter her first championship. With the support of a few politicians, she got the chance to represent India at the 1st World Chessboxing Championship 2017 held in the country itself. As she grabbed the opportunity with open arms, she won the Gold medal. This became the first big milestone in her international journey.
In 2018, she received a call from ACP Avinash Dharmadikari. The unexpected call surprised her. He personally congratulated her for all her achievements and invited her and her family to the police station, which worked as a big motivation to her.
That same year, the 2nd World Chessboxing Championship 2018 was held in India and was sponsored by the Mumbai Police. And bang on, she won the Gold again.
In 2019, Madhavi had the chance to compete in the 3rd World Chessboxing Championship, sponsored by Mumbai Police in Turkey. With her hard work and everyone’s wishes, she secured the silver medal.
For the 4th World Chessboxing Championship 2022 in Turkey, the Umang Foundation helped Madhavi connect with potential sponsors. She received sponsorship from The Shoe Vival and Beyond Seed, a Singapore-based company. And here, it was a Gold medal again.
In 2023, Madhavi competed in the 5th World Chessboxing Championship in Italy. This time, she was sponsored by CEAT Tyres. At the Championship, Madhavi performed strongly and secured a Silver Medal.
In 2024, Madhavi was invited to be a small part of the Chessboxing Inauguration at the Paris Olympia Cultural Event. In the same year, Madhavi travelled to Armenia for the 6th World Chessboxing Championship and won another Gold medal. This time, her participation was fully sponsored by MMBGIMS College, where she had completed her post-graduation in Marketing.
In 2025, she participated in the London Chessboxing May Day Event in the United Kingdom. She was able to attend this event through complete crowdfunding support. This event became a historic moment for India as Madhavi’s name got officially registered in the World Record Book of India as the First Ever Indian to participate in the London Chessboxing May Day Event.
Recently, she competed in the 7th World Chessboxing Championship 2025 in Serbia. Madhavi was injured during this period, but she still chose to compete. Despite the physical challenge, she secured a Bronze Medal.
A journey built through hard work
Madhavi’s journey shows what a never-give-up attitude can create. Every medal she earned came with its own challenges, and every championship was possible because someone believed in her and stepped forward to help. From politicians and police officers to foundations, everyone supports her and her talent. Her journey is still going on, and if the past is any sign, Madhavi will keep making India proud in her own calm, determined way.
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