More Than a Fighter: How One Woman Trained 6,000 Girls to Defend Themselves
Pratibha Thakkadpally’s story isn’t your everyday tale. She didn’t just switch careers; she switched entire worlds. Armed with an MBA from JNTU Hyderabad and a secure corporate job as a business analyst, she was set for a conventional path. But deep within, something didn’t feel right. Numbers, spreadsheets, and presentations couldn’t match the adrenaline rush and sense of purpose she felt in the boxing ring. That bold decision to leave the corporate world behind would transform not just her life, but the lives of thousands of girls across India. A Small-Town Girl with Big DreamsBorn in Pitlam, a small town in Telangana’s Kamareddy district, Pratibha grew up in an academic environment. Her parents ran a school, and education was a key part of her upbringing. But while books surrounded her, it was a boxing glove that caught her heart. One day, a young Pratibha saw Indian boxing icon Mary Kom raising the national flag. Mastering the Martial ArtsToday, Pratibha is not just a boxer; she is a master of eight martial art forms: kickboxing, Thai boxing, taekwondo, wushu, chess boxing, silambam, mixed martial arts, and grappling. Among them, chess boxing stands out for its rare mix of mental and physical prowess. Her mother taught her chess as a child, and she later trained in martial arts under coach Kandi Ravi in Hyderabad. In July 2025, her dedication paid off when she won six gold medals at the Indian Open International Chess Boxing Championship and the Asian Chess Boxing Competition held in Kolkata. Now, her sights are set on the World Championships in Serbia.Training 6,000 Girls to Fight BackWhat truly sets Pratibha apart is her mission: empowering girls through self-defence. Over the years, she has trained more than 6,000 girls, mainly in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) across Kamareddy, as well as at the Telangana Police Academy and IIT Madras. Her training sessions are not just about punches and blocks; they are filled with real-life lessons on self-worth, courage, and identity. For many girls who’ve been taught to stay quiet, Pratibha’s classes are the first place they learn how to fight back.Fighting Stereotypes With Every PunchPratibha’s journey hasn’t been smooth. Injuries, resistance from society, and the pressure to follow a “safe” path were always present. But she never stopped. She’s living proof that strength is not just about muscles; it’s about mindset. Whether it was fighting physical exhaustion during back-to-back rounds of chess boxing or dealing with the emotional toll of breaking gender norms, she’s faced it all with courage. Today, Pratibha is more than an athlete; she’s a mentor, role model, and change-maker. She dreams of setting up dedicated self-defence academies across rural India, especially for underprivileged girls. And as she prepares for the World Championships, she’s not just aiming for medals; she’s aiming for a movement. What makes Pratibha’s journey deeply human is not just the glory; it’s the emotional connection she builds with every girl she trains. Many of her students come from difficult backgrounds, having faced harassment or restrictions on their freedom. But in Pratibha, they find hope, inspiration, and someone who believes in them.
