“Standing on the podium at the India Open International Kickboxing Championship 2025 in New Delhi, holding a gold and bronze medal, felt surreal. Competing in the 60 kg Kick Light and Light Contact categories, I went up against some of the toughest fighters in the country. The tournament had over 1,000 participants from 20+ countries, and every match pushed me to my limits.
Winning gold was not just about the medal—it was about proving to myself how far I’ve come.
I started kickboxing just to lose weight. I never imagined it would turn into something more. At first, it was just fitness, but when my friends started calling me “Kickboxer” instead of my name, I felt a new kind of motivation.
I was born in Melkote, Mandya, and raised in Bangalore, where I studied at Silicon Valley School. In 2020, my family moved to Hyderabad, and now I’m in my second year of BBA at St. Mary’s College, Yousufguda. I’ve always loved sports—athletics, swimming, skating, karate but kickboxing gave me something different. It made me stronger, both physically and mentally.
Over the years, I competed twice at the state level, once at nationals, and twice internationally. At the Kickboxing Championship 2024, I won one silver and one bronze. But this gold in 2025 was special—it was streamed live on Doordarshan Sports, and it felt great to see kickboxing getting recognition.
My family has supported me throughout this journey. They encouraged me when people around us didn’t understand what kickboxing was. In South India, kickboxing is still not as recognized as boxing. Facilities, funding, and structured support are lacking. The Telangana Kickboxing Association has been pushing for recognition, but progress is slow. Right now, athletes like me rely entirely on personal resources to train and compete.
I train under Coach Suresh Patil, and his guidance has shaped my game. It hasn’t been easy, but this sport teaches you how to fight through challenges, both inside and outside the ring. To anyone chasing their dreams—keep going, no matter what others say. If I had listened to doubts, I wouldn’t be standing here today with these medals.”
- Keerthi Gowda, Kickboxing Champion